SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC CORRELATES OF HEARING-LOSS AND HEARING-AID USE IN HISPANIC ADULTS

We examined sociodemographic correlates of hearing loss and hearing ai d use in adult Hispanics using data from the Hispanic Health and Nutri tion Examination Survey. After adjustment for age and gender, odds rat ios (ORs) of hearing impairment for nonmarried vs married participants were 1.6 [95% confidence interval (Cl) = 1.0-2.5] for Mexican-America ns and 2.2 (95% Cl = 1.2-4.2) for Puerto Ricans. ORs ranged from 1.6 t o 3.2 for unemployed us employed, and from 1.7 to 2.1 for uninsured us insured Hispanics. For Mexican-Americans, the OR of hearing aid use f or those living below us above the poverty line was 9.1 (95% CI = 1.1- 100.0). These results are consistent with those reported for other eth nic groups.