Pento

What Pento does

Pento (legal entity Stichting Pento) is a Dutch healthcare foundation operating eight audiological centers and multiple early-intervention locations across Central and Northern Netherlands, employing more than 400 colleagues and serving approximately 25,000 clients annually. Its services span comprehensive audiological diagnostics and rehabilitation (hearing tests, hearing-aid provision, tinnitus, hyperacusis, and balance/vertigo assessments), Vroegbehandeling (early intervention for young children with auditory or communicative disabilities), and Dyslexienetwerk Pento — a certified dyslexia-care collaboration spanning Friesland, Groningen, Drenthe, and Overijssel. Patient access is referral-gated via huisarts and KNO specialists, with services reimbursed under Dutch basic health insurance through contracts with every major Dutch insurer for 2025.

The organization's technology footprint is primarily clinical rather than software-driven. Notable proprietary assets include the Cognitive Sound Exposure Therapy (CSET) protocol for hyperacusis, published in the American Journal of Audiology; Theory of Mind/ToMmie training books for children with auditory disabilities; the FonoBomb video intervention for phonological development; and ImPACTOS, an indirect parent-mediated language therapy program developed with NSDSK and Auris. Digital tools include MedMij-certified Personal Health Environment (PGO) integration across all eight centers, a hearing-loss simulation app, and the 'Kijken naar je Oren' preparatory photo book for intellectually disabled clients. The organization holds ISO 9001, ZonMw expertise recognition (2023-2026), and Dutch Dyslexia Quality Institute certification through May 2028.

Revenue derives almost entirely from health-insurer-reimbursed clinical services delivered through the audiological centers and Vroegbehandeling locations. A small but distinct B2B revenue stream comes from paid accredited professional training (FonoBomb €545-590 incl. VAT, ImPACTOS €660 excl. VAT) for external speech therapists. Marketing is referral-driven rather than paid-advertising-led; the organization also generates scientific credibility through peer-reviewed publications and international congress participation. As a Stichting, Pento has no external shareholders and reinvests surplus into care, research, and facility expansion.

Name

Pento

Legal name

Stichting Pento

Website

https://pento.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Pento is a Dutch healthcare foundation operating eight audiological centers and early-intervention locations across Central and Northern Netherlands, serving ~25,000 clients annually with hearing, speech, language, and dyslexia care reimbursed via Dutch health insurance and delivered by 400+ clinicians.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Audiological and Speech-Language Healthcare Services

NAICS

Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (62134)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)

akta.pro primary industry

Otology & Neurotology (Ear/Hearing/Balance) (HLAKAMAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Literacy-Related Language Intervention (Phonological Awareness, Narrative, Curriculum Language) (EDAKAEAJ), Speech-Language & Communication Intervention Materials (EDAGAMAF)

Keywords

• Audiological care services
• Early intervention therapy
• Speech language pathology
• Dyslexia diagnosis treatment
• Hearing rehabilitation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Apeldoorn

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Audiological Care (Audiologische zorg): Core audiological services including hearing tests, hearing aid provision, tinnitus treatment, hyperacusis treatment, and dizziness/balance assessments. Funded through contracted health insurance under the basic health insurance package (basisverzekering).
2. Early Intervention (Vroegbehandeling): Specialized early treatment for young children with auditory and communicative disabilities. Covered under sensory disability care (zintuiglijke gehandicaptenzorg) through health insurance contracts.
3. Dyslexia Care (Dyslexiezorg): Diagnosis and treatment of dyslexia for children qualifying for reimbursed dyslexia care through the Dyslexienetwerk Pento, a collaboration between Pento centers and affiliated speech therapy practices.
4. Professional Training Courses: Pento offers paid professional development courses for speech-language therapists and other professionals, including FonoBomb (€545-590), ImPACTOS (€660), and Theory of Mind training programs. These generate professional services revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Pento is a Dutch regional healthcare organization (Stichting Pento) that delivers diagnostic, therapeutic, and early-intervention services for hearing, speech, and language disorders. Operating eight Audiologische Centra and multiple Vroegbehandeling locations across Central and Northern Netherlands, Pento serves approximately 25,000 clients annually through multidisciplinary teams of audiologists, speech therapists, social workers, and behavioral scientists. It also operates the Dyslexienetwerk Pento for reimbursed dyslexia care and offers accredited professional training courses for speech therapists.

Product overview

Pento is a Dutch audiological care organization operating eight Audiological Centers and Vroegbehandeling (Early Treatment) locations across Central and Northern Netherlands. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio of services centered around hearing, speech, and language care. Core offerings include hearing testing and diagnosis (Gehooronderzoek), early intervention for young children with auditory or language disorders (Vroegbehandeling), and a Dyslexia Network for children with reading/spelling difficulties. The Vroegbehandeling division includes specialized treatment groups: Babbel for children (2-5 years) with language development disorders and Wapper for deaf and hard-of-hearing children. Pento has also developed proprietary treatment programs including Cognitive Sound Exposure Therapy (CSET) for hyperacusis and Theory of Mind (ToM) Training for children with auditory impairments. Digital offerings include a Hearing Loss Sounds Like app, a Personal Health Environment (PGO) integration, and educational tools like the 'Kijken naar je Oren' photo book. The organization offers professional training programs (FonoBomb, ImPACTOS) for speech therapists and collaborates with over 400 colleagues serving approximately 25,000 clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dyslexienetwerk Pento: A collaboration between Pento Audiologisch Centrum Friesland, Pento Audiologisch Centrum Zwolle, and various speech therapy and dyslexia practices providing professional dyslexia care for children with reading and spelling problems.

Products and services

• Audiologisch Centrum Care Comprehensive audiological diagnostic and treatment services for children and adults with hearing impairment, tinnitus, hyperacusis, and balance/vertigo disorders, delivered at eight regional audiological centers upon physician referral.
• Gehooronderzoek (Hearing Testing) Comprehensive hearing examination services including audiometry, speech audiometry, otoacoustic emissions (OAE), tympanometry, and BERA testing for children and adults, available at all locations and on-site for people with intellectual disabilities.
• Vroegbehandeling (Early Intervention) Specialized early intervention and treatment for young children from birth to school age with auditory impairments or language/speech development disorders (TOS), including individual treatment, group therapy, Video-hometraining (VHT), and parent courses.
• Dyslexienetwerk Pento Professional dyslexia care network providing screening, diagnosis, and treatment for children eligible for reimbursed dyslexia care across Friesland, Groningen, Drenthe, and Overijssel, via a collaboration between Pento audiological centers and affiliated speech therapy practices.
• Behandelgroep Babbel Group treatment program for hearing children aged 2-5 years with suspected language development disorder (TOS), providing playful stimulation of language development in a safe environment staffed by multidisciplinary teams including speech therapists, pedagogical counselors, and behavioral scientists.
• Behandelgroep Wapper Treatment group for deaf and hard-of-hearing children providing early intervention support for communication development, including sign language and spoken language skills.
• Cognitive Sound Exposure Therapy (CSET) Proprietary treatment program for hyperacusis combining psychoeducation, sound exposure, and counseling, delivered by a multidisciplinary team over approximately six sessions to help patients tolerate everyday sounds that were previously experienced as disturbing.
• Theory of Mind (ToM) Training Program Proprietary training programs and accompanying publications for children with auditory impairments to address social-emotional development delays, delivered through two documented books targeting different school grade groups.
• FonoBomb Training Professional development course for speech therapists working with young children (1.6-4 years) with auditory impairments, teaching use of FonoBomb videos for auditory and phonological stimulation. Priced at €590 incl. VAT per participant.
• ImPACTOS Course Evidence-based two-day training course for speech therapists working with children with language development disorder (TOS) and their parents, providing indirect language therapy where parents are trained as active therapy partners.
• Hearing Loss Sounds Like App Mobile application that simulates how sounds are perceived based on a user's audiogram, allowing family and friends to understand the impact of hearing loss by uploading or selecting audio clips and playing them with and without the hearing loss filter.
• Persoonlijke Gezondheidsomgeving (PGO) Integration Personal Health Environment integration that allows clients (16+) to securely view medical data from Pento, including audiograms and audiology reports, and add personal health measurements via MedMij-certified PGO platforms.
• Kijken naar je Oren (Photo Book) Photo book designed to prepare people with intellectual disabilities for hearing examinations, containing photos of materials used during hearing tests and explanations of procedures.
• Hearing Aids (Hoortoestellen) Provision Information, fitting, and trial services for hearing aids including bone conduction hearing devices, with reimbursement assistance for non-standard category hearing devices.
• Hoorinfotheek (Hearing Assistive Device Advisory) Advisory information service providing advice on hearing assistive devices such as loop systems, doorbell notifications, adapted telephones, and special alarm clocks for people with hearing impairment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Pento Vroegbehandeling received a client satisfaction score of 8.8 out of 10 in the annual Cliëntervaringsmeting (CEM).
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• DeelkrachtcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Pento is an active member of Deelkracht, a multi-year sector plan recognized by ZonMw for sensory disability care. Within this collaboration, Pento is involved in various projects, treatment monitors, and congress organization, with numerous partnerships established with universities and stakeholder organizations in ZG care.
• NSDSKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSDSK (Nederlandse Stichting voor het Dove en Slechthorende Kind) collaborated with Pento on the VIPP5 subsidy project for implementing Personal Health Environment (PGO) integration, contributing to digital healthcare advancement.
• AuriscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuris collaborated with Pento in scientific research on the effectiveness of the ImPACTOS treatment method at TOS treatment groups. Auris is a major Dutch organization for children and young people with hearing and language impairments.
• Nederlands Kwaliteitsinstituut DyslexiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Nederlands Kwaliteitsinstituut Dyslexie grants quality certificates to dyslexia care providers. Dyslexienetwerk Pento has been certified since September 2010, with current certification valid until May 31, 2028, demonstrating compliance with national quality standards.
• Dutch Health Insurers (all major)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPento contracts all major Dutch health insurers for 2025, including Zilveren Kruis (with labels De Friesland, FBTO, Interpolis, ZieZo), A.S.R., CZ, DSW, Eucare, Menzis, ONVZ, VGZ, Zorg en Zekerheid, and Salland zorgverzekeringen. This ensures universal patient access to Pento's audiological and early intervention services.
• Logopedie- en Dyslexiepraktijken (Speech Therapy Practices)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDyslexienetwerk Pento is a collaboration between Pento audiologische centra in Zwolle and Friesland and affiliated speech therapy and dyslexia practices across Friesland, Groningen, Drenthe, and Overijssel, enabling children to receive care close to home.
• TNO Child HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTNO Child Health collaborated with Pento audiologists on the research and publication of the CSET (Cognitive Sound Exposure Therapy) treatment for hyperacusis, published in the American Journal of Audiology.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Auris: Auris is a major Dutch organization providing education, care and treatment for children and young people with hearing and language impairments, including early intervention and TOS services. It is a direct peer of Pento's Vroegbehandeling division and an explicit research partner on ImPACTOS.
• Adelante Zorggroep: Adelante is a Dutch healthcare organization offering audiology, rehabilitation and special education services including hearing care and speech therapy. It competes with Pento for audiology referrals and offers comparable multidisciplinary services.
• GGMD (Geestelijke Gezondheidszorg voor Doven en Slechthorenden): GGMD provides mental health and social care specifically for deaf, hard-of-hearing and HoH-blind people in the Netherlands. It overlaps with Pento's multidisciplinary audiological and social work offerings for sensory disability clients.
• Libra Revalidatie & Audiologie: Libra delivers rehabilitation and audiology services across the Netherlands, including hearing tests, hearing aid fitting and balance diagnostics. It directly competes with Pento's audiological centra and tinnitus/balance offerings.
• NSDSK (Nederlandse Stichting voor het Dove en Slechthorende Kind): NSDSK is a Dutch foundation supporting deaf and hard-of-hearing children through early intervention, education and family support. It co-developed Pento's PGO/VIPP5 integration and overlaps directly with Pento's pediatric hearing services.
• Kentalis: Kentalis is one of the largest Dutch organizations for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or have language communication difficulties, operating audiological centers, schools and early intervention nationwide. It directly competes with Pento in audiological diagnostics and Vroegbehandeling across overlapping Dutch regions.

Broad incumbents

• Sonova (Phonak): Sonova is a global hearing aid manufacturer (Phonak, Unitron, Hansaton) that supplies hearing devices to Dutch audiology centers including Pento. It is an incumbent supplier whose technology roadmaps and reimbursement positioning materially shape Pento's hearing aid services.
• Demant (Oticon): Demant is a global hearing healthcare group (Oticon, Bernafon, Sonic) manufacturing hearing aids and audiometry equipment sold through Dutch audiology networks. It is an adjacent incumbent in the broader audiology value chain serving Pento.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PentoNL
• Facebookfacebook.com/PentoNL
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pento-audiologische-centra-en-gezinsbegeleiding

Compliance4 records

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 Pento