Behavioral issues common with congenital hypothyroidism?

My daughter has congenital hypothyroidism and because of a series of errors was not diagnosed until 5 1/2 months. While her prognosis was very grim (severl retardation) she is actually doing very well and is testing normal both cognitively and physically. It has taken lots of therapy, tons of prayer, and great attention to her nutrition, but we are very blessed. The only problem is she is incredibly aggressive at times and gets so frustrated that she has to bite something and throw an absolute fit. She won't let me comfort her during these times. She hits me, pinches me or bites me if I try to help. When I try to discipline her for commom 2 year old things, she just laughs at me. When I try to train her not to touch something by giving her hand a little slap, she never gets the point and stops touching it. It's like she does not understand correction at all. I don't know what is normal for a child with CH or how to respond to her behavior. She bullies her older sister to the point that it is driving a wedge between them and driving me crazy. What should I do?

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Relative to this behavior management concern, you can act as if the CH were not an issue. Deal with the behavior in a straightforward, no-nonsense, practical manner. Set firm limits, stick to them, reward her for cooperating with them, and punish her when she does not. Use time out as the foundation of the discipline plan. And you do not have to reinvent the wheel to develop a sound, systematic plan. Get Lynn Clark's book SOS Help for Parents, follow it to a 't' and you'll be in good shape.