Hørselshemmedes Landsforbund

What Hørselshemmedes Landsforbund does

Hørselshemmedes Landsforbund, doing business as Hørselsforbundet since June 2025, is a Norwegian non-profit membership organization founded in 1917 for people with hearing impairments and their families. Itself describes as the world's largest hearing organization, it reached 70,000 members in November 2025 (up from 68,000 in January 2025) and is supported by 1,500+ volunteers operating through 15 county chapters, 173 local chapters in Norway, and one local chapter in Spain. The organization employs 24 paid staff and coordinates 575 active peer counselors (likepersoner) who delivered a record number of support assignments in 2025, with activity up 20% year-on-year.

The core service portfolio is delivered through the parent organization and three wholly-owned subsidiaries: Briskeby videregående skole (a free nationwide upper secondary school for hearing-impaired youth with academic ambitions), Hørselsrehabilitering AS (a rehabilitation services subsidiary that doubled its treatment capacity in November 2025 and contains the Hørselspedagogene division serving students with hearing challenges), and Ung Hørsel (a youth organization for ages 13-35, formerly HLFU, rebranded in March 2025). Member-facing technology assets include the hlf.no website, the Idébank digital inspiration platform, the Hørselstesteren.no online hearing test, the CI-statistikk national cochlear implant registry co-developed with Norway's four university hospitals (Haukeland, Rikshospitalet, St. Olavs, and UNN Tromsø) and dating back to 1986, the Hør på meg! podcast, and the Godlyd noise-prevention platforms for schools and kindergartens. A collective hearing aid insurance is provided in partnership with AIG, with basic coverage included for all members and an optional Pluss tier priced at 249 NOK per year launching with improved terms in 2026.

The business model is a hybrid non-profit funding stack: recurring individual membership fees (a Norwegian model, specific amount not publicly disclosed), the optional Pluss insurance subscription, government grants from the Ministry of Education and health authorities supporting the school and Hørselspedagogene operations, regular-donor recruitment via outbound phone campaigns run in partnership with Dialog, and member-benefit partnerships (Tryg Forsikring, Circle K, Radisson Blu). The organization supplements this with awareness-driven marketing through annual visibility campaigns such as "Sammen blir vi hørt" and "Nasjonal hørselstest," and earned media through advocacy work that contributed to the incorporation of the UN CRPD into Norwegian human rights law in December 2025.

Name

Hørselshemmedes Landsforbund

Legal name

Hørselshemmedes Landsforbund

Website

https://hlf.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hørselshemmedes Landsforbund (now Hørselsforbundet) is a 1917-founded Norwegian non-profit serving 70,000 members with hearing impairments through advocacy, peer support, rehabilitation, and education via its subsidiaries Briskeby videregående skole and Hørselsrehabilitering AS.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Advocacy and Support Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG), Note-Taking, Interpreting & Communication Access Services (EDALAGAD)

Keywords

• Hearing impairment advocacy
• Peer support services
• Hearing rehabilitation programs
• Hearing aid insurance
• Deaf and hearing loss education

Headquarters

HQ city

Oslo

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Annual membership fees paid by individuals with hearing challenges and their family members. The organization had 68,000 members as of January 2025 and reached 70,000 members by November 2025.
2. Hearing aid insurance: All members receive free basic hearing aid insurance covering loss, theft, and damage (with maximum payout of 7,000 NOK per device/14,000 NOK for two). Optional Pluss insurance at 249 NOK/year provides enhanced coverage up to 13,000 NOK per device/26,000 NOK for two.
3. Government grants and subsidies: Receives government funding including support for Briskeby videregående skole and Hørselspedagogene through the Ministry of Education, and contributions related to rehabilitation services through health authorities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Hørselshemmedes Landsforbund (Hørselsforbundet) is a non-profit membership organization that provides peer support, collective hearing aid insurance, advocacy, rehabilitation courses, and educational services for people with hearing impairments in Norway. It operates through 188 chapters and 1,500+ volunteers, and runs wholly-owned subsidiaries delivering hearing rehabilitation, upper secondary education for hearing-impaired youth, and a youth division for members aged 13-35.

Product overview

Hørselsforbundet operates as Norway's largest organization for people with hearing challenges, offering a comprehensive portfolio of services centered on advocacy, support, and education. The core digital presence is the hlf.no website, complemented by specialized subsidiaries and programs: Hørselsrehabilitering AS provides nationwide rehabilitation courses and services; Briskeby videregående skole offers free upper secondary education for hearing-impaired youth; and Ung Hørsel serves the youth segment aged 13-35. The organization maintains practical tools including the Idébanken (idea bank) for activity inspiration, CI-statistikk for cochlear implant statistics, Hørselstesteren.no for hearing testing, and the Hør på meg! podcast series. Key member benefits include collective hearing aid insurance and peer support (likepersoner) programs. Prevention initiatives include Godlyd i barnehagen and Godlydis skolen. The organization completed a significant rebrand in 2025 from Hørselshemmedes Landsforbund to Hørselsforbundet.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual Membership in Hørselsforbundet Annual membership program that gives individuals with hearing impairments and their families access to peer support, hearing aid insurance, advocacy, and chapter-based community activities across Norway.
• Collective Hearing Aid Insurance (Basic and Pluss) Collective hearing aid insurance included with Hørselsforbundet membership, covering loss, theft, and damage with a 1,000 NOK deductible, plus an optional Pluss upgrade at 249 NOK/year with higher payout limits.
• Likepersoner (Peer Support Program) One-on-one peer counseling connecting members of Hørselsforbundet with 575 trained volunteers who have personal experience of hearing challenges, providing conversation, advice, and support.
• Hørselsrehabilitering AS Rehabilitation Services Wholly-owned subsidiary providing nationwide courses and rehabilitation services for adults with hearing-related conditions and services for young people with reduced hearing, including the Hørselspedagogene competency service for students with hearing challenges.
• Briskeby videregående skole Free upper secondary school for hearing-impaired youth across Norway, operated by Hørselsforbundet, serving students aiming for higher education or trade certificates.
• Ung Hørsel Youth Division Youth membership division of Hørselsforbundet for teenagers and young adults aged 13-35 with various forms of hearing challenges, with its own board and representation in the central board.
• CI-statistikk National Cochlear Implant Statistics Database Comprehensive national statistics database maintained by Hørselsforbundet with all four Norwegian university hospitals, tracking cochlear implant surgeries since 1986 (3,471 persons and 4,530 operations as of 2025).
• Hørselstesteren.no Online Hearing Test Online hearing test tool available to the general public via horselstesteren.no for self-assessment of hearing.
• Rettighetsguide (Rights Guide) for People with Hearing Challenges Statutory rights guide produced by Hørselsforbundet covering legal rights for people with hearing challenges across different life stages.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70,000 members (November 2025), up from 68,000 in January 2025 — new membership record
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Edda PresseminorOthersProvides printing and distribution of the organization's magazine 'Din Hørsel' (Your Hearing). Edda Presse is listed as a data-sharing partner for member communications.
• DialogminorOthersConducts phone campaigns (telefonkampanjer) on behalf of Hørselsforbundet for donor recruitment.
• Radisson BluminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides member offers distributed to Hørselsforbundet members.
• Tryg ForsikringminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides member offers distributed to Hørselsforbundet members.
• Circle KminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides member offers distributed to Hørselsforbundet members.
• NFI (Norsk Formular Industri AS)minorOthersProvides printing and distribution of membership fees/dues.
• Haukeland Universitetssjukehus / Helse BergencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four Norwegian hospitals collaborating in the CI-statistikk (cochlear implant statistics) working group. Provides historical and current CI surgery data to the national statistics database maintained by Hørselsforbundet.
• Rikshospitalet / Oslo UniversitetssykehuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four Norwegian hospitals collaborating in the CI-statistikk (cochlear implant statistics) working group. Provides CI surgery data to the national statistics database.
• St. Olavs Hospital / Universitetssykehuset i TrondheimcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four Norwegian hospitals collaborating in the CI-statistikk (cochlear implant statistics) working group. Provides CI surgery data to the national statistics database.
• Universitetssykehuset i Nord-Norge / TromsøcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivers CI surgery data to the national CI-statistikk database maintained in collaboration with the other three Norwegian university hospitals.
• AIG (American International Group)coreOthersProvides collective hearing aid insurance for Hørselsforbundet members. Offers basic insurance included with membership and optional Pluss insurance for enhanced coverage.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Better Hearing Australia: Australian national consumer advocacy body for people with hearing loss. Similar membership/advocacy structure and member services for hearing-impaired populations.
• RNID (Royal National Institute for Deaf People): UK charity for the 12 million people in Britain with hearing loss. Operates a near-identical model: membership, peer support, advocacy, research funding, and policy engagement — making it one of the most directly comparable peer organizations to HLF.
• Canadian Hard of Hearing Association (CHHA): Canadian national consumer advocacy association for hard-of-hearing individuals. Operates a chapter-based model with advocacy, education, and peer support — directly comparable to HLF's structure.
• Hearing Loss Association of America: US national nonprofit membership organization for people with hearing loss. Closest international analogue to HLF — provides peer support, advocacy, education, and chapter-based community in a comparable national footprint model.
• Hörselskadades Riksförbund (HRF): Swedish national association for people with hearing impairments. Runs an analogous membership, advocacy, and peer-support model in a neighboring Nordic country with a similar welfare state, making it a tight regional peer.
• Fédération Nationale pour l'Audition (France Presbyacousie): French national federation focused on hearing loss. Comparable nonprofit advocacy and awareness model serving a large European hearing-impaired population.
• Deutscher Schwerhörigenbund (DSB): German national association of hard-of-hearing people. Largest German-speaking hearing-loss advocacy body, operating through regional chapters and providing peer support, counseling, and policy advocacy — a directly comparable continental European peer.

Emerging players

• National Association of the Deaf (NAD): US civil rights organization of, by, and for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. Comparable in advocacy and community mission, though more focused on Deaf cultural/sign-language community than hearing-loss support.
• Hearing Health Foundation: US-based nonprofit focused on hearing research, prevention, and education. Less direct service delivery than HLF but comparable in research-adjacent work and awareness/prevention campaigns.

Regional players

• European Federation of Hard of Hearing People (EFHOH): Umbrella federation of national hard-of-hearing organizations across Europe, of which HLF Norway is a member. Comparable in mission but operates at supranational advocacy level rather than direct service delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hlfhorselshemmedeslandsforbund
• Instagraminstagram.com/horselsforbundet
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/horselshemmedeslandsforbund

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Hørselshemmedes Landsforbund