Hearing Speech + Deaf Center

What Hearing Speech + Deaf Center does

Hearing Speech + Deaf Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1925 in Greater Cincinnati, delivering communication-related healthcare and accessibility services across three office locations — a main office at 2825 Burnet Avenue (Cincinnati/Corryville), an Eastgate office at 4440 Glen-Este Withamsville Road, and a West Chester office relocated in August 2025 to 4866 Wunnenberg Way. The organization describes itself as the only full-service comprehensive program serving people who are deaf in the Greater Cincinnati area.

The core service portfolio spans four product lines: (1) audiology and hearing services — diagnostic hearing testing, aural rehabilitation, tinnitus treatment, pediatric audiology, hearing aid fitting, repair, and dispensing across seven manufacturer partnerships (Oticon, Phonak, ReSound, Signia, Starkey, Unitron, Widex), plus cochlear and auditory brainstem implant services; (2) speech-language pathology — language therapy, speech therapy, voice disorder treatment, auditory verbal therapy, and aphasia rehabilitation, delivered in part through the pediatric-focused Katie's House program; (3) occupational therapy — motor skills and sensory processing services for children and adults; and (4) Community Services for the Deaf — ASL interpreting, advocacy, educational workshops, sensitivity training, reasonable accommodation assessments, and a public video phone. The Better Hearing Plan subscription (monthly payments, automatic technology upgrades every three years, comprehensive warranty) and CareCredit financing are offered alongside direct billing to nearly all insurance carriers including Ohio Medicaid.

The business model combines fee-for-service healthcare revenue with philanthropic support. Revenue is generated through insurance-billed clinical services, hearing aid sales, ASL interpreting fees, and donations plus foundation grants (e.g., $25,000 Charles H. Dater Foundation grant in June 2021; SC Ministry Foundation investment in the Connections for Life program from July 2022). The organization is CARF-accredited and holds Candid Platinum Transparency 2026 status. In 2023 it reached 5,471 individuals, dispensed 1,314 hearing aids and assistive listening devices, delivered 4,158 hours of ASL interpreting, and served 265 speech-language and occupational therapy clients. Leadership transitioned in 2024-2025, with Kevin Potts appointed permanent CEO effective September 2, 2025, following Sally Quilligan's interim CEO tenure.

Name

Hearing Speech + Deaf Center

Legal name

Hearing Speech + Deaf Center

Website

https://hearingspeechdeaf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1925

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hearing Speech + Deaf Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1925 that provides audiology, speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, and American Sign Language interpreting services to individuals and families across three Greater Cincinnati locations, serving as the only full-service deaf services program in the region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Audiology and Speech Therapy Services

NAICS

Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (621340), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Audiology & Hearing Diagnostic Centers (HLAFAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Assistive Technology (AT) Access & AAC Access Support (OT-Led) (EDAKAFAG), Deaf/Hard of Hearing & Vision Services (Audiology, Interpreting, Orientation & Mobility) (EDAJAKAI)

Keywords

• Audiology services
• Speech-language therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Hearing aid dispensing
• Deaf community services

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Healthcare Services Revenue: Revenue generated from providing audiology services including hearing tests, hearing aid sales and fittings, cochlear implant services, speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, and related healthcare services. The organization accepts most insurance carriers including Ohio Medicaid.
2. Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the organization relies on donations from individuals and grants from foundations to fund programs and services for underserved populations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Hearing Speech + Deaf Center provides audiology, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, and Community Services for the Deaf across three Greater Cincinnati offices and via telehealth. Services include hearing assessments, hearing aid fitting and dispensing across seven manufacturer brands, cochlear implant support, speech and language therapy for all ages, pediatric occupational therapy, and ASL interpreting and deaf community advocacy. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, it accepts nearly all insurance carriers including Ohio Medicaid and supplements service revenue with donations and foundation grants.

Product overview

Hearing Speech + Deaf Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing a comprehensive suite of communication-related healthcare services in Greater Cincinnati. The organization operates across three locations (Main Office in Cincinnati, Eastgate, and West Chester) and offers audiology and hearing aid services (including seven hearing aid manufacturer partnerships with Oticon, Phonak, ReSound, Signia, Starkey, Unitron, and Widex), speech-language pathology and occupational therapy services (including pediatric services through Katie's House), and community services for the deaf including ASL interpreting, advocacy, and educational programs. The center serves as the only full-service comprehensive program for deaf individuals in the Greater Cincinnati area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Audiology and Hearing Loss Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 5471 individuals reached in 2023
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and minor.

• Social Venture Partners CincinnatiflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2021Selected Hearing Speech + Deaf Center among 12 nonprofits for Project XLR8 program. SVP pairs grant-making with hands-on coaching and guidance. The organization's Communications Access Bank project was selected to advance communication equity and inclusion in Greater Cincinnati.
• IKRONminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with to provide employment opportunities for adults with special needs as part of inclusive employment initiatives.
• Easter SealsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with to create employment opportunities for adults with disabilities as part of inclusive employment initiatives.
• Greenacres FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost for Camp Sign Say day camp activities, providing miniature therapy horses for campers.
• University of Cincinnati College of Allied Health SciencesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner2023 Gala Honoree. Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders recognized for service excellence.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ohio Valley Voices: Cincinnati-area nonprofit that provides listening and spoken language therapy for children with hearing loss, including audiology and family support services. Directly comparable to HSDC as a regional deaf/hard-of-hearing services nonprofit in the same metro.
• St. Rita School for the Deaf: Cincinnati-based K-8 school for deaf and hard-of-hearing students offering ASL/English bilingual education and therapy services. Listed as a HSDC community partner (hosts the Chili Cook-Off) and serves an overlapping deaf community population in the same region.

Broad incumbents

• Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center: Large regional pediatric health system whose audiology and speech-language pathology division competes for pediatric hearing and therapy patients in Greater Cincinnati. Represents the broader incumbent healthcare system that HSDC partners with rather than duplicates.
• Miracle-Ear: National hearing aid retailer and audiology service franchise with locations across Ohio including the Cincinnati metro. Competes with HSDC for adult hearing aid customers but lacks deaf community services, speech therapy, and nonprofit mission.
• HearUSA: National audiology services network offering hearing assessments, hearing aid fittings, and tinnitus management across multiple states. Comparable in core audiology service line but operates as a for-profit chain rather than an integrated community nonprofit.
• Amplifon: Global hearing care company and parent of Miracle-Ear and other retail audiology brands. Relevant incumbent comparable for the hearing aid dispensing and audiology service business that anchors HSDC's revenue.

Others

• AG Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: National nonprofit organization supporting listening and spoken language for people with hearing loss through advocacy, education, and research. Thematically aligned with HSDC's deaf community services and auditory verbal therapy offerings.
• Sertoma Inc. National civic service organization historically focused on speech and hearing health, funding hearing aids and audiology services for those in need. Adjacent nonprofit peer operating in the same speech and hearing mission space, though nationally rather than regionally.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hearingspchdeaf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Hearing Speech + Deaf Center