This study examined the educational and social conditions of 215 hard-of-hearing students (grades 1 to 11) in Sweden, 157 of whom were placed in regular classes, usually as the only hard-of-hearing student in the class. The study interviewed the pupils, surveyed parents and teachers, and conducted a sociometric analysis. Results indicated that the proportion of pupils receiving no choice as preferred partner was substantially greater among the hearing impaired than among their hearing classmates. These proportions increased with the age of the students. Video recordings were made in 13 regular classes to identify significant events or interactions influencing the social situation. These were classified and analyzed under the following headings: (1) physical environment; (2) strategies and patterns of adaptation of the hearing impaired child; (3) help and support from hearing classmates; (4) teacher attitudes and deportment; and (5) the teaching process and planning of lessons. For each category, examples of situations or events, promoting as well as undermining the social position of the hard-of-hearing student, were identified. Contains seven references. (DB)