What Are Thyroid Conditions?

Most childhood chronic conditions such as autism, ADHD, SPD and autoimmune disorders are often co-morbid to thyroid conditions. The thyroid gland located in the front of the neck, is responsible for all metabolic and chemical processes in the body and is a primary factor in how children grow. There are always symptoms that children experience when the thyroid is involved.

Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism

If a child has too much thyroid hormone, the condition is called hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). Symptoms include:

• Excessive sweating
• Diarrhea
• Bulging eyes
• Trouble sleeping

Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

If a child has too little thyroid hormone, the condition is called hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). Symptoms include:

• Slow heartbeat
• Cold hands and feet
• Brittle hair
• Dry skin
• Constipation

Other Thyroid Conditions

An enlarged thyroid is called a goiter which sometimes leads to Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, an autoimmune thyroid condition that is more common in girls. If your child has a lump in their neck and their voice changes, this may be thyroid nodules or thyroid cancer, which can cause the lymph nodes in the neck to enlarge.

An autoimmune disorder called Grave’s Disease seems to be the underlying cause of hyperthyroidism in children especially at the onset of adolescence. A child with Grave’s disease may have extreme restlessness and short attention span which can negatively affect the child’s school performance.

Ultimately, all thyroid conditions have been found to affect the growth and development of a child.

What Your Doctor May Tell You About Thyroid Disorders

Your child’s pediatrician may tell you that in some cases thyroid conditions may be hereditary. However, many children do not get enough of the mineral iodine in their diet, which can contribute to thyroid problems and to make sure you use salt with iodine on your child’s food.

Initially the doctor may want to do a physical exam on your child and blood tests on the major hormones that the thyroid makes, which are T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine). Depending on the thyroid condition, the doctor may also decide to do an ultrasound or a thyroid scan if necessary.

Hyperthyroidism

If your child shows a hyperthyroidism condition, the doctor will prescribe medication to regulate the thyroid. If the problem does not resolve itself after two years, then the doctor may decide to permanently keep the thyroid from producing too much hormone by using a medication that destroys it, or he or she might decide to surgically remove it. Either way, your doctor may tell you that hyperthyroidism must be controlled so that symptoms will subside.

Hypothyroidism

Your child’s pediatrician may tell you that it is much easier to treat hypothyroidism than hyperthyroidism. For this condition, your child will likely take medication for the rest of their life to make sure that their body has enough thyroid hormone to grow and develop normally so that all symptoms will subside.

Your child’s pediatrician may also tell you that your child will need yearly blood tests and monitoring. In this way, the thyroid condition is essentially managed and kept under control with daily medication so that the child feels like normal again.

Any other more complicated thyroid conditions that do not regulate with medication will most likely be treated with surgery to remove the thyroid.

Another Way to Think About Thyroid Conditions

According to Raphael Kellman, MD, a pioneer in functional medicine specializing in microbiome, there is a surprising amount of overlap between the symptoms of low thyroid in neurotypical children and the symptoms of developmental disorders in children with learning disabilities, ADHD, developmental delays and autism. Symptoms include:

• Social dysfunction
• Communication dysfunction
• Fear
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Gastrointestinal abnormalities
• Constipation
• Feeding and eating problems

Dr. Kellman’s findings show that 75% of low thyroid function is actually missed with children with autism and other developmental delays when doctor’s only do routine testing. Dr. Kellman recommends a comprehensive evaluation and a full thyroid panel which includes levels of:

• Total T4
• Reverse T3
• Thyroid antibodies TgAb and TPOAb

Thyroid Conditions Healing Checklist

Use homeopathy specific for thyroid conditions

Consider using Schueller’s cell tissue salts which can be effective as well. Sequential homeopathy can also be specific for gastrointestinal symptoms if needed.

• Graphites
• Nux vomica
• Spongia
• Lapis alb
• Lycopus

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