Background and objectives: Overseas research suggested higher rates of hearing loss among children from migrant backgrounds, but there are no data in the Australian context which consists about 50% of the population. So, there is a compelling need to investigate whether inequalities in hearing loss is present among
Australian children of migrant communities and what factors contribute to any observed inequalities.
Rationale: The study provides quantitative evidence for hearing inequalities and correlates of inequalities among children from migrant backgrounds.
Method: A nationally representative data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children were used. Logistic regression was used to estimate correlates of hearing loss, including demographic, socioeconomic, health, and migration-related factors.
Results: A higher prevalence of hearing loss was found in children from migrant backgrounds (33.8%) compared to non-migrant children (21.3%). Female sex, high birth weight, living in disadvantaged areas, and low primary caregiver English language proficiency were associated with increased odds of having hearing loss
among children from migrant families.
Conclusion: Hearing loss is more common among children from migrant families compared to their non-migrant peers.
Significance: The study findings would support hearing loss prevention strategies and early identification programmes targeted on migrant communities to address these inequalities.