IMPAIRMENT OF NEUROMOTOR AND COGNITIVE-DEVELOPMENT IN IODINE-DEFICIENT SCHOOLCHILDREN WITH NORMAL PHYSICAL GROWTH

In order to detect somatic and psychomotor disturbances in children an d adolescents residing in areas of iodine deficiency, schoolchildren f rom three areas with different degrees of iodine deficiency were studi ed. In Randan, the prevalence of severe endemic goiter was accompanied by alteration in thyroid function, increased thyrotropin levels and r etardation of both bone and psychomotor age and decreased intellectual quotient. In Tehran, where iodine deficiency is mild, visible goiter was present in 15% of schoolchildren but no alterations in thyroid fun ction, serum thyrotropin, somatic or psychomotor development could be detected. In Zagoon, where the prevalence and severity of goiter was l ess than Randan but more than Tehran, thyroid function was normal but slightly decreased as compared to Tehran; somatic development was unal tered, but retardation in psychomotor development was evident and the mean intellectual quotient was less than that of Tehranian schoolchild ren, These findings indicate the occurrence of physical and psychomoto r disturbances in apparently normal schoolchildren from areas of iodin e deficiency. Alteration in psychomotor development may occur in child ren with normal physical growth, due to iodine deficiency.