Chang of suspicious sub-cretin children’s psychomotor function in different periods of iodine supplementation

Objective To investigate the validity of psychomotor function handicap to diagnose the sub-cretin in different periods of iodine supplementation. Methods Psychomotor function was tested to suspicious sub-cretin children and their controller in 1996 and 1999 in Ningqiang County. Results ①The tested score of sub-cretin children's psychomotor function was significant lower than that of their control group (P 0.01), whether in the period of iodine inadequacy in 1996 or in the period of iodine adequacy in 1999.② In the same children who were standardized by age model, the psychomotor function scores did not significant change from 1996 to 1999(P 0.05). Conclusions Psychomotor function handicap is related to iodine deficiency in pregnancy, resulting in the nervous system damage. This relatively stable or permanent handicap does not change with the iodine level. So, it can be used to diagnose the sub-cretin children.