The representation and attainment of students with a hearing loss in higher education

In 1995-96, students with a hearing loss constituted 0.20% of all students who were enrolled on programmes of study in higher education in the UK and 0.22% of students normally resident in the UK. Their representation varied with age, but within each ageband the representation of students with a hea ring loss was markedly lower than the prevalence of hearing loss in the gen eral population. This trend was compounded among students in ethnic minorit ies. Students with a hearing loss tended to have been admitted with lower q ualifications than students with no reported disability, but those with pas ses at GCE Advanced Level had similar points scores. The representation of students with a hearing loss varied inversely with their level of study, it was greater in part-time students than in full-time students, and it varie d markedly across different disciplines. In first-degree programmes, studen ts with a hearing loss were equally represented in the first and subsequent years of study; at other levels, they were more likely to choose programme s that were of only a year's duration. The representation of students with a hearing loss was lower among those who obtained qualifications than among those who did not, and students with a hearing loss obtained slightly poor er first degrees than students with no reported disability; however, both o f these results were due to differences in background variables. A hearing loss per se appears to have no effect on academic attainment.