Northern Speech Services
Northern Speech Services is a privately held, Gaylord, Michigan-based educational products company that sells online ASHA-approved continuing education courses, therapy materials, and proprietary assessment protocols (MBSImP, BaByVFSImP, CVES) to speech-language pathologists and allied clinical end-users.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1972
- HeadquartersGaylord, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Northern Speech Services does
Northern Speech Services, founded in 1972 and headquartered in Gaylord, Michigan, is a privately held educational products company serving speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and related clinical end-users. Its product portfolio centers on proprietary, trademarked assessment protocols and associated training, treatment, and renewal courses — most notably MBSImP (Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile) for adult videofluoroscopic swallow study interpretation, BaByVFSImP for bottle-fed babies, and the patented CVES (Core Vocabulary Exchange System) low-tech AAC device. The company also sells an online catalog of ASHA-approved continuing education courses spanning autism, apraxia, cognition, dementia, literacy, /R/ remediation, narrative intervention, social skills, and dysphagia assessment, plus physical and digital therapy materials (e.g., Kaufman Speech Praxis Test score sheets, 'R' Made Simple, Spark Picture This 2! flipbook). A newer offering, EASI (Evaluation of Auditory/Speech Processing), was launched in April 2026 with a dedicated clinician login portal at easievaluation.com.
The underlying technology is a self-paced, video-based online learning management system augmented by frame-by-frame fluoroscopy analysis tools, standardized scoring rubrics, and reliability testing that gates Registered Clinician status. CVES is differentiated by issued US and Australian patents on its low-tech, color-coded, hook-and-loop icon exchange system. Content is co-developed with academic partners at Johns Hopkins University, Northwestern University, and the Medical University of South Carolina (which participates in MBSImP royalty economics), with icons licensed from Tobii Dynavox's Boardmaker PCS library.
Northern Speech Services makes money primarily through one-time course and therapy material purchases (price band roughly $69–$625, with a 20% group discount for 3+ SLPs at the same institution) and recurring certification/renewal fees on a 5-, 10-, and 15-year cycle (e.g., $99 five-year MBSImP renewal). Distribution is direct-to-consumer e-commerce through northernspeech.com, supplemented by a University Resource Project for institutional buyers and conference exhibits. Revenue is undisclosed; the firm is founder/management-controlled with no external investor or acquirer relationships evident in the source data.
Northern Speech Services firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Northern Speech Services
- Legal name
- Northern Speech Services
- Website
- https://northernspeech.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1972
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Northern Speech Services is a privately held, Gaylord, Michigan-based educational products company that sells online ASHA-approved continuing education courses, therapy materials, and proprietary assessment protocols (MBSImP, BaByVFSImP, CVES) to speech-language pathologists and allied clinical end-users.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Northern Speech Services industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Speech-Language Pathology Continuing Education
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (61171), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Speech & Language Screening and Assessment (School-Age) (EDAKAEAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Language Disorders Intervention (Receptive/Expressive, Morphology/Syntax/Semantics) (EDAKAEAE), Speech Sound Disorders (Articulation/Phonology) Intervention (EDAKAEAD), Autism Teacher Training & Professional Development (EDAKAKAL)
Keywords
Where Northern Speech Services is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Gaylord
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Northern Speech Services business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Online Course Sales: Self-paced online continuing education courses offered for ASHA CEUs. Course prices range from $69 to $625. Includes initial training courses, renewal courses, and specialized protocols.
- Therapy Materials Sales: Physical and digital therapy materials including assessment tools, treatment programs, AAC devices (CVES), and clinical resources.
- Certification/Renewal Fees: MBSImP and BaByVFSImP clinician certification and renewal fees. Includes 5-year and 10-year renewal options with access to clinician database and web templates.
- Group/Corporate Enrollment: Discounted group enrollment for 3+ SLPs at same institution, with 20% savings. University resource programs for educational institutions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | BaByVFSImP Full Training Course - $625 |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | MBSImP 5-Year Renewal Course - $99 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | CVES Training Course - $69 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | MBSImP Treatment Course - $99-$119 |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Group Enrollment Discount - 20% |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Northern Speech Services product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Northern Speech Services provides online continuing education courses (ASHA CEUs) and proprietary standardized assessment protocols for speech-language pathologists. Core offerings include the MBSImP adult swallowing impairment protocol, the BaByVFSImP pediatric/bottle-fed baby protocol, the CVES low-tech AAC communication device, the EASI auditory/speech evaluation, and physical/digital therapy materials. Courses deliver self-paced video, interactive practice, frame-by-frame fluoroscopy analysis, and reliability certification at $69 to $625 per course, with multi-year renewals.
Product overview
Northern Speech Services provides a comprehensive platform for speech-language pathology professionals consisting of online continuing education courses offering ASHA CEUs and physical/digital therapy materials. The core product suite includes the MBSImP (Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile) standardized assessment protocol with associated training, treatment, and renewal courses; the BaByVFSImP protocol for pediatric videofluoroscopic swallowing assessment; the CVES (Core Vocabulary Exchange System) low-tech AAC device for children with communication disorders; and the EASI evaluation tool. Therapy programs cover autism, apraxia, cognition, dementia, literacy, narrative intervention, /R/ remediation, and social skills. Additional offerings include a dysphagia mobile application and various therapy materials including assessment tools, flipbooks, and score sheets. The company is an ASHA CE Provider and approved for continuing education in multiple U.S. states.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CVES - Core Vocabulary Exchange System A low-tech, durable, two-way AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) platform combining core vocabulary and picture exchange to help children develop functional communication skills beyond simple requests. Features removable icons held by hook-and-loop, color-coding, and a binder system. Patented in the US and Australia. Targeted at SLPs serving children ages 3+ with autism, apraxia, or other communication challenges.
- MBSImP - Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile A standardized protocol for interpreting and communicating VFSS (Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study) results in adults, comprising 17 physiologic components for assessing swallowing impairment with reliability testing. Includes training courses (#e01 assessment, #e012 treatment, #e128 5-year renewal, #e273 10-year renewal, #e326 15-year renewal) awarding Registered MBSImP Clinician status upon passing reliability at 80% accuracy. Used by SLPs in NICU, acute care, rehabilitation, and outpatient settings.
- BaByVFSImP - Videofluoroscopic Assessment of Swallowing Impairment in Bottle-Fed Babies A standardized swallowing assessment protocol for bottle-fed babies, modeled after the adult MBSImP protocol, covering 21 components of the swallowing mechanism with associated impairment scores. Offered as a self-guided online training course at $625, with a 20% discount for prior MBSImP trainees. Targeted at SLPs serving pediatric and NICU populations.
- Therapy Materials Physical and digital therapy products including assessment tools, treatment programs, flipbooks, score sheets, and clinical resources for speech-language pathology practice. Includes Kaufman Speech Praxis Test for Children (KSPT) score sheets, 'R' Made Simple remediation program, Spark Picture This 2! flipbook, and literacy intervention materials. Targeted at practicing SLPs, clinics, and schools.
- EASI - Evaluation of Auditory/Speech Processing An evaluation tool for assessing auditory and speech processing abilities in children, paired with a clinician login portal for test administration and results management. Launched April 2026. Targeted at SLPs and audiologists.
- Dysphagia App A mobile application focused on swallow physiology for dysphagia assessment and management support. Targeted at SLPs working with adult dysphagia patients.
- Online SLP ASHA CEU Courses Self-paced online continuing education courses for speech-language pathologists offering ASHA CEUs. Course format combines video, audio, and text with narration, spanning dysphagia assessment and treatment, apraxia therapy, autism intervention, AAC, telepractice, social skills, literacy, and other SLP topics. Courses range from 0.1 to 2.3 ASHA CEUs, priced individually from $69 to $625, with unlimited completion time and option to earn free courses via peer review.
Quantifiable outcome
- 80% accuracy required for reliability certification
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Northern Speech Services
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Northern Speech Services technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Northern Speech Services partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Johns Hopkins UniversitycoreDr. Maureen Lefton-Greif is Professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Co-developed BaByVFSImP protocol. Copyright holders for the course content.
- Northwestern UniversitycoreDr. Bonnie Martin-Harris is Alice Gabrielle Twight Professor at Northwestern University. Developer of MBSImP protocol. Original author of standardized training materials.
- Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)coreMUSC receives royalties from Northern Speech related to enrollment tuition of MBSImP Online Training. Kate Davidson is Research Associate at MUSC.
- Illinois Early Intervention Training ProgramminorApproved BaByVFSImP course for 23 hours of EI credential credit in Illinois.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Northern Speech Services competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SpeechPathology.com (Continued): One of the largest online continuing-education providers for speech-language pathologists, offering ASHA-approved CEU courses on a subscription basis. It directly overlaps with NSS's core online CE business and target buyer (practicing SLPs).
- MedBridge: Leading online education and patient-engagement platform for healthcare professionals including SLPs. MedBridge competes head-to-head with NSS on ASHA-accredited CEU courses, therapy home exercise programs, and clinician-facing digital tools.
- Super Duper Publications: Long-standing publisher of speech-language therapy materials, worksheets, and apps for school-based and clinical SLPs. Directly competes with NSS's Therapy Materials line for budget allocated to clinical resources.
- HomeCEUConnection: Online continuing-education provider offering ASHA-approved CEU courses to speech-language pathologists and audiologists. Competes with NSS on breadth of online CEU catalog and individual clinician pricing.
- Therapy Insights: Subscription-based resource library of printable therapy materials, handouts, and treatment guides written for practicing SLPs and OTs. Overlaps with NSS's therapy materials and AAC-adjacent content for clinicians in schools and clinics.
- Bjorem Speech: Specialty publisher focused on speech sound disorders and pediatric feeding, selling sound cards, decks, and therapy resources to school-based SLPs. Closely overlaps with NSS's speech sound disorders and literacy/articulation offerings.
- CEU360: Online CEU marketplace for allied health professionals, including SLPs, with ASHA-approved courses. Competes on individual course pricing and bundle discounts for practicing clinicians.
Broad incumbents
- ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association): The national professional association that defines and accredits ASHA CEU providers like NSS, while also running its own learning portal and CE offerings. ASHA is both regulator and indirect competitor in the SLP CE market.
- LinguiSystems (Pro-Ed): Established publisher of assessments,教材, and therapy materials for speech-language pathologists and special educators under the LinguiSystems and Pro-Ed brands. A broader incumbent serving the same clinical SLP buyer with a larger portfolio.
Others
- Tobii Dynavox: Global leader in high-tech AAC devices and the owner of Boardmaker PCS icons that Northern Speech's CVES system uses under license. Tobii Dynavox is an enabling technology partner and broader adjacent incumbent in the AAC category, not a direct competitor in NSS's assessment and CE core.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Northern Speech Services social profiles
Digital presenceNorthern Speech Services compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Northern Speech Services financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Northern Speech Services leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Northern Speech Services funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Northern Speech Services M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Northern Speech Services
What does Northern Speech Services do?
Northern Speech Services provides online continuing education courses (ASHA CEUs) and proprietary standardized assessment protocols for speech-language pathologists. Core offerings include the MBSImP adult swallowing impairment protocol, the BaByVFSImP pediatric/bottle-fed baby protocol, the CVES low-tech AAC communication device, the EASI auditory/speech evaluation, and physical/digital therapy materials. Courses deliver self-paced video, interactive practice, frame-by-frame fluoroscopy analysis, and reliability certification at $69 to $625 per course, with multi-year renewals.
Is Northern Speech Services a public or private company?
Northern Speech Services is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Northern Speech Services founded?
Northern Speech Services was founded in 1972. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Northern Speech Services based?
Northern Speech Services is headquartered in Gaylord, United States, in the North America region.
How does Northern Speech Services make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Online Course Sales are the primary driver. The others are therapy Materials Sales, certification/Renewal Fees and group/Corporate Enrollment.
Who are Northern Speech Services's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SpeechPathology.com (Continued), MedBridge, Super Duper Publications, HomeCEUConnection, Therapy Insights, Bjorem Speech and CEU360. Broad incumbents are ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) and LinguiSystems (Pro-Ed). Tobii Dynavox is listed as an others.
Does Northern Speech Services have an API?
No public API is recorded for Northern Speech Services.
What industry is Northern Speech Services in?
Northern Speech Services's product category is Speech-Language Pathology Continuing Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAKAEAB, Speech & Language Screening and Assessment (School-Age), with a secondary code of EDAKAEAE, Language Disorders Intervention (Receptive/Expressive, Morphology/Syntax/Semantics). Its NAICS code is 61171 and its SIC code is 8200.