Don’t risk not knowing if your newborn has congenital hypothyroidism!

The ATF 2026 Thyroid Awareness Month brings attention to the fact that no newborn should miss out on the heel prick test.

Without testing Congenital Hypothyroidism can be easily missed. It is essential the test is performed on Day 2 or 3 of life.

Please be aware and ensure your newborn is tested!

Congenital Hypothyroidism usually results when a baby is born without a thyroid gland, or the thyroid gland does not develop completely, but there are many other causes of this disorder.  There is not always a clear reason why a baby is born with Congenital Hypothyroidism, however a genetic mutation can be the reason. Iodine Deficiency can also play a part as well. It is important the mother passes enough iodine onto the foetus during its development.

Newborn detection of Congenital Hypothyroidism is determined by way of the Newborn Heel Prick Test. This test is usually done on Day 2-3 of life and is essential to determine genetic disorders in the newborn.

The Heel Prick Test includes the TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) test which will determine your newborn’s thyroid health status. This test should be performed routinely on all newborn babies throughout Australia. Without this test, a thyroid disorder could easily be overlooked.

Congenital Hypothyroidism is treated the same as hypothyroidism in children or adults, with thyroid replacement hormone, Levothyroxine. It is crucial for these babies to be diagnosed within a few days of birth by a newborn screning (heel prick) test as any delay can lead to severe developmental issues, including loss of IQ. To confirm a congenital hypothyroidism diagnosis, a blood test is performed, with blood taken from a vein, after a positive heel prick test. As babies grow, monitoring is necessary to adjust Levothyroxine dosage and to monitor growth and development. Ensuring ongoing Thyroid Thyroid Function Test (TFTs) are performed in the correct manner is essential to ensure the dose of Levothyroxine is appropriate.

Children who have been diagnosed with Congenital Hypothyroidism are treated by a Paediatric Endocrinologist with regular monitoring and testing through their developing years.  

Please ensure your newborn is tested to ensure nothing is missed.  

The reasons why babies are not tested:  

• Parents decline to test
• Discharge from hospital before the test
• Failure to follow up testing
• Home births instead of hospital

Thyroid is a BiG Deal!
Don’t Ignore Your Thyroid!

As statistic show over 1 million Australians are living with an undiagnosed thyroid disorder, the Australian Thyroid Foundation are here to help you!

It’s May and It’s the Australian Thyroid Foundation Awareness Month! 

Hypothyroid and Hyperthyroid symptoms can easily be overlooked as other health issues, so make sure if you are concerned about symptoms or changes, you ask your doctor to order Thyroid Blood Tests and a Thyroid Ultrasound if you are concerned about the physical health of your thyroid gland.

Thyroid disorders can have a huge effect on your health and wellbeing.  Without the right amount of thyroid hormone that you need, your energy, thinking and body functions can be greatly affected.

Don’t Become a Statistic, click here to learn more

If you have any questions, please email:  info@thyroidfoundation.org.au

Click below link to download the media release: 

ARTICLE

I thought I was losing the plot until I found out my surprising diagnosis

Read article