Foundation for Hearing and Speech Resources

What Foundation for Hearing and Speech Resources does

Foundation for Hearing and Speech Resources (FHSR) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1956 and incorporated in 1958, headquartered in Illinois, that serves families of children with hearing loss. The organization operates a portfolio of programs including the Music Theatre Main Experience (MTME), Education Coordinator, 1-3-6 Awareness initiative, Literacy program, Loaner Hearing Aid program, LEAP (Listening Education for Aural Parents), and Ages and Stages developmental support. As of latest data, FHSR serves 900+ children and 350+ families across Illinois.

FHSR delivers services through partnerships with hospitals, schools, and music schools. The most significant institutional partnership is with Lurie Children's Hospital, dating to 2000, which supported 99 cochlear implantations in 2023. Additional collaborations include Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and a network of schools and music schools across the Chicago area, supporting school-based music programs launched in 2020. The organization's digital presence has been externally recognized with MarCom Gold (2021) and dotCOMM Silver (2021) website awards.

FHSR's revenue model is donation-based, with programs supported through charitable contributions and a $900 per child sponsorship mechanism. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The organization has expanded its demographic scope with the 2021 launch of the Aging Voices program and operates without a disclosed technology or AI layer. Service delivery is human-intensive, relying on Education Coordinators, music program facilitators, and partner-clinician networks.

Name

Foundation for Hearing and Speech Resources

Legal name

Foundation for Hearing and Speech Resources

Website

https://fhsr.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Foundation for Hearing and Speech Resources is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1956 that provides programs and services to families of children with hearing loss in Illinois, including music programs, education, and hospital partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pediatric Hearing Loss Support Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Inclusion, Special Needs & Early Intervention Training (IEPs/IFSPs, Neurodiversity) (EDACAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Literacy & Numeracy Intervention (Reading/Math Support) (EDAJALAD)

Keywords

• Pediatric hearing loss services
• Deaf and hard of hearing children
• Music therapy for hearing loss
• Special education advocacy
• Loaner hearing aid program

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: FHSR operates as a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization (Tax ID: 36-6082810) primarily funded through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants. The organization solicits donations through its website with one-time, monthly, and annual giving options, and matches through employer gift matching programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

FHSR is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers a portfolio of free or low-cost educational, clinical, and social support programs for children with hearing loss in Illinois and their families. Its core offerings include tuition-free music enrichment classes and instrument lessons (Music To My Ears), research-based music therapy, school-based music curricula for DHH classrooms, an Education Coordinator program that provides IEP/504 advocacy and school placement support, a loaner hearing aid bank and LEAP battery/charger program, early literacy training, and an Ages and Stages resource portal covering birth through high school graduation.

Product overview

Foundation for Hearing and Speech Resources (FHSR) is a private non-profit organization offering a portfolio of support programs for children with hearing loss and their families, not a unified software platform. The core offerings include: the Music to My Ears (MTME) music enrichment program with early childhood classes, instrument lessons, school-based music, and music therapy; the Education Coordinator Program providing IEP/504 support; the 1-3-6 Awareness Campaign for early hearing detection; the Literacy Program offering training and book scholarships; the Loaner Hearing Aid Program and LEAP program providing hearing technology access; and the Ages and Stages resource portal covering birth through high school. These programs work together to provide comprehensive educational, clinical, and social support for deaf and hard of hearing children.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Music To My Ears (MTME): Music enrichment classes, individual instrument lessons, school-based music programs and music therapy for deaf and hard of hearing children.
• 1-3-6 Awareness Campaign
• EARS
• LEAP Program

Products and services

• Music To My Ears (MTME) Program Comprehensive music enrichment program for deaf and hard of hearing children, encompassing tuition-free early childhood classes, individual instrument lessons, school-based music curriculum, and music therapy services.
• MTME Scholarship Program A year of tuition-free music classes and instrument lessons for deaf and hard of hearing children, delivered through partnerships with Chicagoland music schools covering early childhood enrichment and individual instrument instruction (piano, guitar, strings, band instruments).
• Education Coordinator Program Free resource program providing parents, caregivers, and professionals with personalized support for school placement, IEPs, 504 plans, technology, accommodations, and transitions for children with hearing loss from birth to age 22.
• Loaner Hearing Aid Program Program providing temporary hearing devices to children while awaiting insurance approval, repairs, or replacement, with equipment banks stocked at pediatric clinics and schools across Illinois.
• LEAP Program (Loaner Equipment for Academic Progress) Program providing batteries and chargers for hearing aids and cochlear implants to school-based audiologists to ensure students have full access to classroom instruction.
• School-Based Music Programs Weekly music classes embedded in deaf and hard of hearing classroom curricula for students ages 3-7, using the MTME DHH-specific music curriculum to promote communication, language acquisition, articulation, and self-esteem.
• Music Therapy Program Research-based, tuition-free music therapy program for children ages 4-9 with hearing loss, focused on improving listening skills, self-esteem, socialization, and articulation, delivered via 12-week winter sessions by board-certified music therapists.
• Literacy Program (EARs) Early literacy initiative providing free training for parents, caregivers, and Early Intervention professionals on best practices for reading to children with hearing loss, along with book scholarships featuring characters with hearing loss.
• Lurie Children's Partnership Program Clinical partnership funding audiology services, loaner hearing device banks, music therapists, social workers, and the Hart Family Education Liaison for the Cochlear Implant Program at Lurie Children's Hospital.
• Policy and Advocacy Program Advocacy efforts providing families with information and tools to engage with elected officials on pediatric hearing loss issues, including newborn screening, insurance coverage, and disability rights legislation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of MTME school-based music program students demonstrated proper call and response skills on assessment
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of ChicagoflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000FHSR created a strategic partnership with Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago (formerly Children's Memorial Hospital) starting in 2000 to remove barriers for children with hearing loss. FHSR funds audiology technician, loaner hearing device bank, music therapists, social workers, Pediatric Otology Special Needs Fund, and the Hart Family Education Liaison for the Cochlear Implant Program. Lurie Children's completed 99 cochlear implantations in 2023, including 12 children with unilateral hearing loss.
• Advocate Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFHSR provides grants to Advocate Children's Hospital (Oak Lawn location) to stock loaner hearing aid banks for pediatric patients awaiting repairs, replacement, or insurance approval.
• University of Chicago Comer Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFHSR provides grants to Comer Children's Hospital to stock loaner hearing aid banks for pediatric patients awaiting repairs, replacement, or insurance approval.
• University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System (CHUI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFHSR provides grants to University of Illinois Hospital to stock loaner hearing aid banks for pediatric patients at the Happy Ears clinic on Taylor Street.
• SCOPE Speech & Hearing Clinic at Rush UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFHSR provides grants to Rush University's SCOPE Speech & Hearing Clinic to stock loaner hearing aid banks for pediatric patients.
• Rush University Medical Center Pediatric AudiologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFHSR partners with Rush University Medical Center's pediatric audiology department, providing grants for loaner hearing technology.
• Chicago Hearing Society - Youth Connections ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFHSR partnered with Chicago Hearing Society's Youth Connections Program to create the EARs Early Literacy training program for parents, school professionals, and Early Intervention service providers, designed to close the early literacy gap for DHH children.
• Merit School of MusiccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMTME Scholarship partner offering early childhood music classes (ages 0-5) and individual/group instrument lessons (ages 4-14) including piano, guitar, strings, and band instruments at 38 South Peoria Street, Chicago, IL 60607.
• Old Town School of Folk MusiccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMTME Scholarship partner offering early childhood Wiggleworms classes (ages 0-4) and individual/group instrument classes (ages 5-12) in piano, drums, guitar, ukulele, and fiddle at Logan Square and Lincoln Park locations.
• Community School of the Arts at Wheaton CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMTME Scholarship partner offering early childhood music classes (ages 0-4) and Music Makers & Suzuki Little Stars (ages 4-6) in keyboard and strings at 501 College Avenue, Wheaton, IL 60187.
• Music Makers of Western SpringsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMTME Scholarship partner offering individual instrument classes in Piano, Strings, Drums, Guitar/Ukulele, and Musical Theatre at 4332 Howard Avenue, Western Springs, IL 60558.
• School of RockminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMTME Scholarship partner offering performance-based music education including individual lessons, group rehearsals, and live performances (ages 8-16) at locations in Northbrook and Oak Park, Illinois.
• Music & Movement at GCCNSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMTME Scholarship partner offering early childhood music and movement classes (ages 9 months to 4 years) at 1000 Elm Street, Glenview, IL 60025.
• Tiny Toes MusicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMTME Scholarship partner offering playful music classes for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers across locations in Downers Grove, Hinsdale, La Grange, Burr Ridge, and Clarendon Hills.
• Encore Music Academy (Crystal Lake)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMTME Scholarship partner offering early childhood classes (birth to 6 years) and music lessons/classes at 87 North Williams Street, Crystal Lake, IL 60014.
• Prospect Music TherapycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFHSR partnered with Prospect Music Therapy and lead researcher Laura Pawuk (PhD, Eastern Michigan University) to create a DHH-specific music therapy curriculum. Professional music therapists provide 12-week winter music therapy programs for children ages 4-9.
• Bell Elementary (Chicago Public Schools)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school for MTME school-based music curriculum and classroom-based music enrichment in deaf and hard of hearing classrooms.
• Kinzie Elementary (Chicago Public Schools)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school for MTME school-based music curriculum and classroom-based music enrichment using a Total Communication approach.
• Peter Cooper Dual Language Academy (Chicago Public Schools)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school for MTME school-based music curriculum and classroom-based music enrichment.
• Child's Voice Oral Deaf SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPilot partner for MTME school-based music curriculum (launched January 2020) and school-based music programming site. Also hosts musical storytime events.
• Terrace Elementary (NSSEO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school for MTME school-based music curriculum and DHH classroom-based programming.
• Villa Park Early Childhood Center (SASED)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school for MTME school-based music curriculum serving early childhood DHH students.
• University of Iowa / Dr. Kate GfellercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFHSR's music therapy curriculum is based on the groundbreaking research of Dr. Kate Gfeller at University of Iowa. Dr. Gfeller serves as an Advisory Board member.
• Illinois Early Hearing Detection & Intervention (EHDI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFHSR has partnered with Illinois EHDI to help families understand the 1-3-6 process and what to expect in the first 6 months of a baby's life if diagnosed with hearing loss.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• BEGINNINGS for Parents of Children Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing: North Carolina-based nonprofit providing parent support, education, and advocacy for families of DHH children. Directly comparable in mission, service model (IEP support, family events, early intervention), and regional nonprofit structure.
• Hands & Voices: National nonprofit parent-driven organization supporting families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Highly comparable to FHSR in mission, target population, and wraparound parent support model, but operates nationally rather than state-specific.
• John Tracy Center: California-based nonprofit providing free parent-centered services to families of young children with hearing loss, including education, counseling, and clinical referrals. Comparable to FHSR in offering free wraparound services and parent education for DHH children.
• Hear See Hope: Family-focused nonprofit supporting children with hearing loss through funding, research, and family connections. Comparable to FHSR in family-centric DHH support model and community-building approach.
• AG Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: National membership and advocacy organization supporting listening, speech, and language for people with hearing loss. Comparable to FHSR in serving DHH children and families, with a stronger national advocacy and research focus.
• Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech: Multi-state network of schools and services for children who are deaf or hard of hearing, including mainstream school programs and family services. Comparable to FHSR's school-based music programming and education services for DHH students.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of the Deaf (NAD): Nation's premier civil rights organization of, by, and for deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Overlaps with FHSR's policy and advocacy work but operates at a much broader national scale.
• Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA): National consumer organization representing people with hearing loss across all ages. Broader in scope than FHSR (serving adults and children), but addresses overlapping parent/family needs for DHH advocacy and community support.
• Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center: Federally funded national center providing educational resources for DHH children and the professionals who serve them. Comparable to FHSR's educator training and curriculum development work, but at federal scale.

Regional players

• Child's Voice: Illinois-based oral deaf school serving children with hearing loss ages 0-8 in the Chicago area. Direct regional peer that partners with FHSR (pilot partner for MTME school-based music curriculum) and shares overlapping DHH family catchment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fhsrchicago
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCQTLpxHbc786khVpg4GJU1Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/fhsr.chicago
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fhsr
• Instagraminstagram.com/fhsr.chicago

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Foundation for Hearing and Speech Resources