Deafmutism
Type: Symptom
Definition
A combination of profound hearing loss and an inability to speak.
Clinical Details
The development of the inner ear structures, particularly the cochlea, is highly dependent on precise thyroid hormone levels during the first trimester. Iodine deficiency irreparably damages these delicate auditory pathways before birth. Because the infant cannot hear from birth, they subsequently fail to develop the neurological capability for spoken language.