SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC AND EDUCATIONAL CORRELATES OF HEARING-LOSS IN HISPANIC CHILDREN

Sociodemographic and educational correlates of hearing loss were exami ned in Cuban-American, Mexican-American and Puerto Rican children 6-19 years of age. Logistic regression analyses indicated a greater risk o f bilateral hearing loss among children living in crowded housing cond itions or without health insurance, as well as among those who were be low expected school grade level and whose parents reported low educati onal attainment levels. However, the strengths of these associations w ere small to moderate in magnitude and were not always consistent acro ss the ethnic subgroups. These findings provide some evidence that hea ring-impaired Hispanic children are more likely to reside in economica lly disadvantaged families and to be below their expected school grade level.