BRISTOL REGIONAL SPEECH & HEARING CENTER

What BRISTOL REGIONAL SPEECH & HEARING CENTER does

Bristol Regional Speech & Hearing Center (BRSHC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit healthcare provider founded in September 1955 at Bristol Memorial Hospital under the auspices of The Border Guild (later the Junior League of Bristol). Operating from a single clinic at 359 Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 100, Bristol, Virginia, the organization delivers comprehensive audiology and speech-language pathology services to patients across Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. Over its 70+ year history, it has grown into a community-anchored provider serving children with speech and language delays, adults recovering from stroke or neurological injury, and seniors with age-related hearing loss.

The clinical service portfolio spans two integrated lines. Audiology offerings include comprehensive hearing evaluations, digital and rechargeable hearing aid dispensing with a 30-day trial period, hearing aid repair with custom molds, cochlear implant evaluation and mapping (since 2009), CaptionCall captioned-telephone services, Videonystagmography (VNG) vestibular testing, Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) testing, and infant/child hearing services using Visual Reinforcement Audiometry and Conditioned Play Audiometry. Speech-language pathology services include comprehensive evaluations, therapy for articulation, aphasia, apraxia, dysarthria, dysphagia, fluency, voice, and cognitive communication disorders, plus the SOS Approach to Feeding. ASHA-certified clinical staff—including a Clinical Director of Audiology (Dr. Michelle Durham) and multiple CCC-SLP pathologists—deliver care alongside specialty partners such as Dr. JoAnna Sloggy for voice care and Ed M. Bice (2025 ASHA honoree) for swallowing disorders.

The business model combines sliding-scale patient service fees based on federal poverty guidelines with Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement (over half of the patient base) and a diversified fundraising stack including United Way of Bristol, TN/VA partnership, Interstate Bingo events at 238 Euclid Avenue, the annual Run Your Mouth 5K with corporate sponsorship tiers ($500–$5,000), individual donations, PayPal online giving, and a donated hearing aid redistribution program. Customer acquisition is community-led, driven by physician referrals, the United Way affiliation, and 70+ years of regional brand recognition. The center is led by Executive Director Elaine Rock and Director of Finance and Administration Kate Rush, with a volunteer Board of Directors chaired by Charles Moffatt.

Name

BRISTOL REGIONAL SPEECH & HEARING CENTER

Legal name

Bristol Regional Speech and Hearing Center

Website

https://brsh.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bristol Regional Speech & Hearing Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1955 in Bristol, Virginia, providing audiology and speech-language pathology services—including hearing aids, cochlear implants, and therapy for children and adults—on a sliding-scale fee basis across Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Speech and Hearing Healthcare Services

NAICS

Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (621340)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Audiology & Hearing Diagnostic Centers (HLAFAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Speech Sound Disorders (Articulation/Phonology) Intervention (EDAKAEAD)

Keywords

• Audiology services
• Speech-language pathology
• Hearing aid dispensing
• Cochlear implant mapping
• Pediatric hearing evaluations

Headquarters

HQ city

Bristol

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Patient Service Fees: Sliding-scale fees based on federal poverty guidelines for speech, language, and hearing services. Accepts Tennessee and Virginia Medicare/Medicaid as payment.
2. Donations and Sponsorships: Individual contributions, charitable foundation support, and corporate sponsorships for events. Specific sponsorship tiers available for the Run Your Mouth 5K event ranging from $500 to $5,000.
3. Bingo Proceeds: Community fundraising through Interstate Bingo events held at 238 Euclid Ave, Bristol, VA. All proceeds support speech and hearing services for those in need.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bristol Regional Speech & Hearing Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides comprehensive speech, language, and hearing services including audiology (hearing evaluations, hearing aids, cochlear implant mapping, VNG/ABR testing), speech-language pathology (evaluations, therapy for articulation, aphasia, dysphagia, fluency, voice), and pediatric services on a sliding-scale fee basis. Patient services are delivered at its Bristol, Virginia clinic and supported by Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement, donations, sponsorships, and bingo fundraising.

Product overview

Bristol Regional Speech & Hearing Center (BRSHC) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) healthcare organization offering two integrated service lines: Audiology Services and Speech-Language Pathology Services. Audiology offerings include comprehensive hearing evaluations, digital hearing aid dispensing with a 30-day trial, hearing aid repair, cochlear implant services (evaluations, mapping, and aural rehabilitation since 2009), CaptionCall captioned telephone service, VNG and ABR testing, auditory processing evaluations, and infant/child hearing services. Speech and language services encompass evaluations (1½-2 hours), therapy for articulation, aphasia, apraxia, dysphagia, fluency, voice disorders, and the SOS Approach to feeding therapy for children. The Center also operates hearing aid donation and cochlear implant accessory recycling programs. All services are provided on a sliding-scale fee basis, with acceptance of Tennessee and Virginia Medicare/Medicaid.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Comprehensive Hearing Evaluations Audiological assessments for adults and children including hearing sensitivity testing and speech intelligibility evaluation.
• Digital Hearing Aids (Pediatric and Adults) Dispensing of digital and rechargeable hearing aids from multiple manufacturers, including Bluetooth connectivity models, with a 30-day trial period.
• Hearing Aid Repair and Custom Molds In-office hearing aid repairs with drop-off options, manufacturer repairs with 1-year warranty for aids under 5 years, and custom swim molds and hearing protection in various colors.
• Infant and Child Hearing Services Newborn hearing evaluations with equipment designed for tiny ears, visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA), and conditioned play audiometry for children; also includes educational audiology services, auditory processing evaluations, and school-based hearing screenings.
• Cochlear Implant Services Cochlear implant evaluations and mapping services along with aural rehabilitation to help recipients learn to listen through their devices.
• CaptionCall captioned telephone service authorized for prescription, using voice recognition technology to provide written captions of phone conversations on a large screen with amplification and customizable audio settings.
• Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) Testing Safe and painless testing to evaluate how hearing nerves and brain respond to sound.
• Videonystagmography (VNG) Testing Diagnostic testing for patients experiencing vertigo, dizziness, and balance issues to evaluate vestibular system function.
• Central Auditory Processing Evaluations Evaluations to assess how the brain processes auditory information, particularly for patients with central auditory processing disorder.
• Speech and Language Therapy Therapy services covering articulation and phonological disorders, apraxia of speech, aphasia, dysarthria, dysphagia, fluency disorders, voice disorders, social communication disorders, cognitive communication disorders, and spoken/written language disorders.
• Dysphagia Evaluation and Treatment Assessment and treatment for swallowing disorders, including muscle exercises to strengthen facial muscles and improve swallowing coordination.
• SOS Approach to Feeding Transdisciplinary program for assessing and treating children with feeding and weight/growth difficulties, integrating motor, oral, behavioral, medical, sensory, and nutritional factors.
• Speech and Language Evaluation Comprehensive 1½-2 hour evaluation assessing receptive/expressive language, articulation, voice, fluency, oral motor structures, and feeding, with written diagnostic reports.
• Donated Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants Program Accepts donated hearing aids and cochlear implant speech processors for redistribution to patients who cannot afford new devices.
• Custom Hearing Protection and FM Assistive Devices Custom hearing protection in various colors and FM systems as assistive listening devices for patients.
• Accent Modification/Reduction Speech therapy service to modify or reduce foreign or regional accents for improved communication clarity.
• Assistive/Augmentative Communication Communication devices and strategies for individuals with speech or language impairments to enhance their ability to communicate.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over half of patient base is Medicare/Medicaid patients
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Hard Rock Casino (Primary Sponsor)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Primary sponsor for Run Your Mouth 5K 2026 at $5,000 level. Includes recognition at event, logo on t-shirts, 10 free race registrations, and first choice to repeat sponsorship.
• HRI (Primary Sponsor)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Primary sponsor for Run Your Mouth 5K 2026 event supporting speech and hearing services in the community.
• United Way of Bristol, TN/VAcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 1955BRSHC is a proud partner of United Way of Bristol, TN/VA. United Way mobilizes community resources for health, youth opportunity, and financial security. The organization has been an established United Way agency providing quality speech and audiology services for 70 years.
• Junior League of Bristol (formerly The Border Guild)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1955Originally established at Bristol Memorial Hospital in September 1955 under the auspices of The Border Guild, a young women's service club. The Border Guild later changed its name to Junior League of Bristol. The center was incorporated as a private, non-profit organization governed by its own Board of Directors.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Sonova (Phonak / Unitron): Global hearing aid manufacturer whose Phonak and Unitron brands supply devices dispensed by BRSHC. Adjacent rather than competing, included as an ecosystem participant relevant to BRSHC's hearing aid dispensing business.
• CaptionCall by Sorenson: Provider of captioned telephone technology for people with hearing loss. BRSHC is an authorized prescriber of CaptionCall, making it a partner/ecosystem participant in hearing loss services.

Broad incumbents

• HearingLife: Large multi-clinic audiology and hearing aid retailer operating across the US, Canada, and Europe. Directly comparable core offering (comprehensive hearing evaluations, hearing aid dispensing, repairs) but as a for-profit incumbent at much larger scale than Bristol Regional.
• Amplifon: Global hearing healthcare company operating thousands of clinics in over 25 countries providing hearing evaluations, hearing aids, and audiology services. Comparable in services to BRSHC's audiology practice but as a multinational publicly listed incumbent.
• Miracle-Ear: National franchise network of hearing aid centers providing hearing assessments, hearing aids, and follow-up services. Comparable offering to BRSHC's audiology and hearing aid dispensing, but as a large for-profit retailer that does not focus on nonprofit, sliding-scale care.
• Beltone: Long-standing national hearing aid retailer with company-owned and franchised locations offering hearing evaluations, hearing aid fittings, and service. Overlaps with BRSHC's dispensing business but operates at significantly broader scale and as a for-profit chain.

Direct peers

• Easter Seals: National nonprofit network providing audiology, speech-language therapy, and other rehabilitation services for children and adults, often on a sliding-scale basis. Comparable in mission, service breadth, and community-based nonprofit delivery to BRSHC.
• Texas Hearing Institute: Houston-based nonprofit providing pediatric audiology, hearing aids, cochlear implant services, and speech-language therapy. Most direct comparable in terms of nonprofit, multi-disciplinary, pediatric-heavy audiology/SLP practice model to BRSHC.
• Center for Hearing and Communication: Nonprofit audiology and speech-language pathology center providing hearing evaluations, hearing aids, cochlear implant support, and therapy services to children and adults on a sliding-scale basis. Highly comparable nonprofit clinic model and service mix to BRSHC.
• Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech: Nonprofit organization providing listening and spoken language education, audiology, and speech-language services for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Closely aligned nonprofit mission and integrated audiology/SLP service delivery model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Bristol-Regional-Speech-and-Hearing-Center-159624167382878
• Instagraminstagram.com/bristolregspeechandhearing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bristol-regional-speech-&-hearing-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about BRISTOL REGIONAL SPEECH & HEARING CENTER