Introduction
The thyroid is a tiny gland that secretes hormones located in the throat area. Thyroid is crucial for energy in every cell in the body and for normal brain development in utero and especially during the first few years of life. Irregularities in either of the thyroid hormones, T3 and T4, can affect behaviors, the functioning of the nervous system and cognitive development. Raffael Kellman, MD has found that 75% of ASD children had undetected thyroid problems. As many as 7 out of 10 had an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism). He found a decrease in the conversion from T4 to T3 and an increase of the inflammation markers in the immune system due to the production of immune autoantibodies which suppressed TSH production. He also found high cortisol levels due to the extreme stress of ASD children which also decreased TSH production. Routine measuring of the thyroid by taking the body temperature or measuring the blood TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone), T3, and T4 have been found not to consistently detect problems and abnormal levels in the thyroid. Instead, the TRH (Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone) Stimulation test stimulates the pituitary gland to produce TSH which stimulates the thyroid and produces thyroid hormones. The TRH test has a much more accurate assessment of what is going on with the thyroid. Dr. Kellman has found that by treating the thyroid hormones ASD children can improve language, cognition, hyperactivity, motor function, socialization and gastrointestinal issues.
Related Sites
Autism Four Times Likelier When Mother's Thyroid is Weakened Description: Pregnant women who don't make nearly enough thyroid hormone are nearly 4 times likelier to produce autistic children than healthy women.
Possible Association of Hypothyroidism and Autism Description: Severe hypothyroidism in mothers is associated with possible autism in babies.
Books
Tools
Parent Forums/Blogs
Some forums require you to sign in to Yahoo or Facebook to locate forum names.
Forum/Blog Name: Autism and Thyroid Blog Description: Parents ask Dr. Jim Sears questions and he responds.
Forum/Blog Name: Autism-Thyroid 2 Description: Welcome to Autism-Thyroid2, where we discuss the relationship between thyroid dysfunction and autism spectrum disorders (including PDD).
Consumer Corner
Community Library
The Thyroid-Autism Connection: The Role of Endocrine Disruptors Description: A paper on how environmental toxins disrupt the hormones written by Raffael Kellerman, MD.
Hypothyroidism and Autism: The Story of Micah Boy Genius by Jessica Wade (Micah’s Mother) Description: This is an article about the story of Micah and his struggles due to congenital hypothyroidism and autism.