Prevalence of speech and hearing disorders in a state penitentiary population.

Speech and hearing screening was conducted with 136 inmates incarcerated at the Mississippi State Penitentiary. The prevalences found for articulation and for fluency disorders were comparable to prevalence figures reported for the general population, whereas the prevalence figures for voice and hearing disorders among the sample group were appreciably higher. The demographics of the subject group as to age, sex, offender status, educational background, and receipt of previous speech/hearing evaluation are reported and discussed relative to screening failure.