[MENTAL AND SPEECH DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDREN LIVING IN ECOLOGICALLY UNFAVOURABLE REGIONS OF GEORGIA]

Georgian Med News. 2021 Oct:(319):52-57.
[Article in Russian]

Abstract

The ecological condition of different cities and regions in Georgia is variable. The level of anthropogenic contamination with xenobiotics in most of them significantly exceed the normal level. In almost 25% of children residing in Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi the level of xenobiotics varies 5.0-10.0 mkg/dL, 16% of children have higher than 10.0 mkg/dL. We have studied the profile of mental and speech development in children living in abovementioned cities according to the level of Pb in blood. On the basis of representative selection we have studied the level of Pb in the range of 5.0 mkg/dL and 10.0 mkg/dL for two groups of children with normal development: 65.5 months- (I study group) and 89.5 months (II-study group). Control group has no Pb in blood. The situation in family was also considered. Intellectual development was assessed by Wexler verbal and nonverbal subtests, neuropsychological methods by Luria-Kristensen and visual-motor and visual-spatial evidence by WBAVMA. According to results of children from group I living in ecologically unfavourable regions average evidence for mental and speech verbal awareness were within normal range and similar to controls. As for group II the difference from normal age range was not found. The development of awareness of false belief of second order for group-I was significantly delayed which could occur due to pitfalls in cognitive field. The redevelopment of structure of motivated behaviour in children from group-I was significantly restricted compared with group-II and controls.

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Georgia (Republic) / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Speech*