HEAR Center
HEAR Center is a Pasadena-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit hearing and speech clinic, founded in 1954, providing audiological evaluations, hearing aids, speech-language pathology, and free community screenings to children, adults, and seniors throughout Los Angeles County.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1954
- HeadquartersPasadena, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What HEAR Center does
HEAR Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit hearing and speech clinic headquartered at 301 E. Del Mar Blvd in Pasadena, California, founded in 1954 by Dr. Ciwa Griffiths, a speech therapist and auditory-verbal therapy pioneer who studied pedaudiology at London's Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital. The organization provides audiological evaluations (pure tone audiometry, otoacoustic emissions, tympanometry, acoustic reflexes, speech discrimination testing), pediatric and adult hearing aid dispensing, hearing and ear protection services, Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) evaluation and treatment, tinnitus evaluation, and speech-language pathology delivered by licensed SLPs and SLPAs. Its clinical methodology — the Auditory Approach for early intervention in deaf and hard of hearing infants — became the standard in American hospitals and underpins the organization's international recognition.
The business model combines fee-for-service clinical revenue with a freemium community outreach layer. Reimbursable services are billed to Medicare, Medi-Cal, California Children Services, Regional Centers, PPOs, and EPOs, with sliding-scale rates offered to uninsured and underinsured patients. Free services include hearing aid consultations, pediatric and senior hearing screenings (42,840 cumulative since July 2009 across Los Angeles County), audiological evaluations for those who fail screenings, health fair screenings, and a monthly webinar program. The organization generates supplementary funding through donations, planned giving, grants, and an annual golf tournament that has cumulatively raised $1,000,000 over 42 years. Tele-practice services launched in March 2020 via a HIPAA-compliant platform remain available for remote evaluations, therapy, and consultations.
HEAR Center operates a single physical location serving Los Angeles County with 11-50 employees and an appointment-only model (no walk-ins). Distribution is anchored by community-based outreach including pediatric screenings at schools and daycares, senior center visits (since 2005), health fairs, and institutional referral partnerships with three Regional Centers (Frank D. Lanterman, San Gabriel/Pomona, East Los Angeles), California Children Services, the City of Pasadena, and Pasadena and South Pasadena senior centers. Marketing relies on a content-driven website, YouTube-hosted webinars, email newsletter, and organic social (Facebook, Instagram, Yelp). Leadership transitioned in January 2026 with the appointment of Marisol Barrios Perez as executive director.
HEAR Center firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- HEAR Center
- Legal name
- Hear Center
- Website
- https://hearcenter.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1954
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- HEAR Center is a Pasadena-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit hearing and speech clinic, founded in 1954, providing audiological evaluations, hearing aids, speech-language pathology, and free community screenings to children, adults, and seniors throughout Los Angeles County.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
HEAR Center industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Audiology and Speech Therapy Services
- NAICS
- Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (621340)
- SIC
- Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Audiology & Hearing Services (ENT-Affiliated) (HLAKAMAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Audiology & Hearing Diagnostic Centers (HLAFAKAH), Otology & Neurotology (Ear/Hearing/Balance) (HLAKAMAC)
Keywords
Where HEAR Center is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pasadena
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
HEAR Center business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Healthcare Services Revenue: Revenue from audiological evaluations, hearing aids, speech-language pathology services. Accepts Medicare, Medi-Cal, CCS, HMO referrals, PPOs, EPOs, and offers sliding scale rates for those without adequate insurance coverage.
- Donations and Fundraising: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Tax ID: 95-2017214), HEAR Center receives donations, bequests, planned gifts, and holds an annual golf tournament that has raised $1,000,000 over 42 years.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Hearing Aid Consultations |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Pediatric Hearing Screenings |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Senior Hearing Screenings |
| Subscription | Monthly | Sliding Scale Healthcare Services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
HEAR Center product offering
Product offeringCore offering
HEAR Center is a nonprofit hearing and speech clinic that delivers audiological evaluations, hearing aid consultations and fittings, speech-language pathology services, Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) assessment and treatment, tinnitus services, and tele-practice care. It complements clinical services with free community-based pediatric and senior hearing screenings, webinars, seminars, and health fair outreach throughout Los Angeles County.
Product overview
HEAR Center is a nonprofit hearing and speech clinic offering a comprehensive suite of services across the hearing and communication care spectrum. The core clinical services include audiological evaluations and hearing aids (adult and pediatric), hearing and ear protection, Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) services, speech and language pathology, tinnitus services, and tele-practice. Community outreach programs complement the clinical offerings with pediatric and senior hearing screenings, health fairs, seminars, and a free monthly webinar program. Patient administration is supported through digital intake forms via FormDr. The organization serves clients across all life stages from infants to seniors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Audiology and Hearing Aids Comprehensive audiological evaluations including speech discrimination testing, tympanometry, acoustic reflexes, and otoacoustic emissions (OAE). Includes free hearing aid consultations. For children and adults in Los Angeles County.
- Hearing Aids Hearing aids for adult and pediatric patients, working with all major manufacturers. Includes free consultations to help patients select appropriate devices.
- Hearing and Ear Protection Services focused on preventing hearing loss through protective devices and education.
- Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) Services Evaluation and treatment for CAPD, a disorder where the brain has difficulty processing auditory information despite normal hearing ability. Includes auditory training programs and FM systems.
- Speech and Language Pathology Speech and language therapy services including articulation, receptive/expressive language, fluency, auditory processing assessment, and pragmatic/social skills. Conducted by licensed SLPs and SLPAs.
- Tinnitus Services Evaluation and referral services for tinnitus. Discusses treatment options including Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and maskers.
- Tele-Practice Remote healthcare services delivered via a HIPAA-compliant platform, including speech and language evaluations, therapy, hearing aid consultations, and speech screenings.
- Pediatric Hearing Screenings Free hearing tests for children conducted at daycares, schools, and the HEAR Center facility. Includes pure tone audiometry and OAE testing methods.
- Senior Hearing Screenings Free hearing screenings provided at senior community centers and facilities in Pasadena and surrounding cities, including hearing aid cleanings and maintenance check-ups.
- Health Fairs Free hearing screenings at community health fairs including PASS/FAIL tests, hearing aid cleanings, and hearing health education.
- Webinar Program Free virtual presentations on speech, language, and hearing topics conducted via Zoom with Q&A sessions and YouTube uploads with closed captioning.
Quantifiable outcome
- 42,840 free screenings provided since July 2009
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use HEAR Center
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
HEAR Center technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
HEAR Center partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- City of PasadenaminorCommunity partnership with the City of Pasadena to serve residents with hearing and speech services.
- Pasadena Senior CentercoreRegular hearing screenings and hearing aid maintenance services provided at the senior center for Pasadena seniors.
- South Pasadena Senior CenterminorHearing screening services for South Pasadena senior community members.
- Frank D. Lanterman Regional CentercoreRegional center partnership providing services to individuals with developmental disabilities including hearing and speech support.
- San Gabriel/Pomona Regional CentercoreRegional center partnership serving individuals with developmental disabilities in the San Gabriel and Pomona valleys.
- East Los Angeles Regional CentercoreRegional center partnership providing hearing and speech services to East Los Angeles community.
- RalphsminorShopping incentive program allowing Ralphs customers to contribute to HEAR Center. HEAR Center is enrolled as a Community Contribution recipient (NPO#: 93784).
- California Newborn Hearing Screening ProgramcoreHEAR Center founder Dr. Ciwa Griffiths helped develop California's first neonatal hearing screening program, which became the standard in American hospitals.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
HEAR Center competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- USC Caruso Family Center for Childhood Communication: University pediatric audiology clinic providing diagnostic evaluations, hearing aids, and auditory-verbal therapy in Los Angeles; competes for the same pediatric and CCS-funded patient base.
- House Ear Clinic: Los Angeles-based specialty clinic offering audiology, hearing aids, and ENT services; directly comparable as another LA hearing specialty provider serving overlapping adult and pediatric patient populations.
- UCLA Audiology Clinic: Academic audiology clinic serving LA County with comprehensive hearing evaluations, hearing aid dispensing, and pediatric specialty services comparable to HEAR Center's core offerings.
- Stanford Ear Institute: Academic medical center audiology clinic offering full diagnostic and rehabilitative hearing services; comparable in scope of audiology and speech services though operating in Northern California.
Others
- Hearing Loss Association of America: National consumer advocacy nonprofit for people with hearing loss; adjacent because it raises awareness and referrals that flow into clinical services like HEAR Center's.
- Starkey Hearing Foundation: Nonprofit hearing health organization operating hearing missions and access programs; thematically comparable mission but delivers services internationally rather than through local clinical care.
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association: Professional association that credential HEAR Center's SLPs and audiologists; adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a service competitor.
Broad incumbents
- Miracle-Ear: National franchise retail chain for hearing evaluations and hearing aids; competes with HEAR Center's adult hearing aid fitting services at significantly broader geographic scale.
- Costco Hearing Aid Center: Retail hearing aid dispensing inside Costco stores; competes on price and convenience for adult hearing aid customers in HEAR Center's catchment area.
Regional players
- Children's Hospital Los Angeles (Audiology Program): Pediatric audiology and speech-language services within a major LA children's hospital; competes for CCS and Regional Center referrals in the same Los Angeles market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
HEAR Center social profiles
Digital presenceHEAR Center financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
HEAR Center leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
HEAR Center funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
HEAR Center 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 HEAR Center
What does HEAR Center do?
HEAR Center is a nonprofit hearing and speech clinic that delivers audiological evaluations, hearing aid consultations and fittings, speech-language pathology services, Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) assessment and treatment, tinnitus services, and tele-practice care. It complements clinical services with free community-based pediatric and senior hearing screenings, webinars, seminars, and health fair outreach throughout Los Angeles County.
Is HEAR Center a public or private company?
HEAR Center is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was HEAR Center founded?
HEAR Center was founded in 1954. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is HEAR Center based?
HEAR Center is headquartered in Pasadena, United States, in the North America region.
How does HEAR Center make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Healthcare Services Revenue is the primary driver. The others are donations and Fundraising.
Who are HEAR Center's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are USC Caruso Family Center for Childhood Communication, House Ear Clinic, UCLA Audiology Clinic and Stanford Ear Institute. Others are Hearing Loss Association of America, Starkey Hearing Foundation and American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Broad incumbents are Miracle-Ear and Costco Hearing Aid Center. Children's Hospital Los Angeles (Audiology Program) is listed as a regional player.
Does HEAR Center have an API?
No public API is recorded for HEAR Center.
What industry is HEAR Center in?
HEAR Center's product category is Audiology and Speech Therapy Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAKAMAI, Audiology & Hearing Services (ENT-Affiliated), with a secondary code of HLAFAKAH, Audiology & Hearing Diagnostic Centers. Its NAICS code is 621340 and its SIC code is 8093.