PURPOSE: To verify the association between socioeconomic factors and self-referred speech-language disorders. METHODS: This study was carried out through home interviews with 543 adults who lived in the city of Salvador (BA), Brazil. RESULTS: Results showed positive statistically significant associations between level of education and hearing loss complaints (RP=1.48 with IC95% 1.22-1.81), and between level of education and language complaints (RP=1.69 with IC95% 1.36-2.11). Associations between income and oral motricity (RP=1.34 with IC95% 1.13-1.60) and between income and vocal complaints (RP=1.24 with IC95% 1.08-1.44) were also found. CONCLUSION: Adverse life conditions were related to high prevalence of speech-language disorders in communities.
Epidemiologic factors; Disease; Social conditions; Environment; Public health
