------Program code: NS-080717-03453 (what's this?)
Source: CCTV.com
07-17-2008 11:10
 |
A special school is located in a village in the southwest of Fujian Province. Some of the students here are intellectually disabled. Yun is 14 years old and one of these students. Although she looks like any other student, her IQ is only 51. A child her age should have an IQ of 100. This means she has the intelligence of a six year old. 32
 |
Yun was born into a peasant family in 1993. Her parents earned a living through farming vegetables. Though they were not rich, Yun’s birth brought the family joy. But soon the differences between her and other children overshadowed everything.
A healthy child can walk and speak simple words at one year old, but Yun couldn’t speak until she was two years old. She couldn’t walk until she was four. Her parents grew concerned. They took her to the local hospital, but they didn’t find anything wrong with her. They were relieved and assumed she was just a late bloomer.
When she got older, she had to go to school. Soon after, new problems emerged. Why was Yun doing so badly? During some testing organized by the China Disabled Persons' Federation, they finally learned why.
Prof. Zhang asked Yun’s mother detailed questions about her pregnancy. He also tested the local water, soil and crops.
Later, Prof. Zhang checked their kitchen and found that though they used iodized salt, the way food was prepared was a source of concern.
Yun’s mother put the salt in the food as she started to cook and then used a large fire to cook.
As a trace element, iodine is essential to the body, especially the brain and nervous system. If you lack iodine, you can develop an iodine deficiency. Those who have a milder deficiency may develop a goitre. In severe cases, it’ll result in an intellectual disability and will reduce a person’s intellectual capacity. A child under 3 years old will develop cretinism, which often leads to stunted physical and mental development or possibly paralysis. The scientists told us if you get a sufficient amount of iodized salt, you can effectively prevent an iodine deficiency. Yun continues her studies at the special school. It’s important for her to learn to live independently and to integrate with society.
Editor:Yang
