Listen and Talk
Listen and Talk is a Kirkland, Washington-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1996 that provides specialized listening and spoken language programs for deaf and hard-of-hearing children from birth through school age, serving 233 students and over 200 families across Washington State through integrated therapy, preschool, audiology, and outreach services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersKirkland, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Listen and Talk does
Listen and Talk is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1996 and headquartered in Kirkland, Washington, that delivers specialized listening and spoken language (LSL) programs for children who are deaf and hard of hearing from birth through school age. The organization operates an integrated service model spanning seven programs: the Birth to Three Program (weekly in-home and virtual family coaching), the Blended Classroom Program (inclusive preschool with hearing peers at Kirkland and Seattle's Stevens Elementary), Listening and Spoken Language Therapy (45-minute sessions with LSLS-certified clinicians), the Harry Levinson Memorial Audiology Center (on-site hearing assessments and device support), Outreach Services (statewide itinerant teacher of the deaf services), Training and Professional Development (internships and mentorship), and the Connecting Families Project (alumni and family network). It employs 37 staff, including LSLS-certified therapists and educators, and serves 233 enrolled students and over 200 families across King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties with additional statewide reach through virtual services. The technology stack centers on the LENA wearable/cloud platform for tracking conversational turns in early intervention, alongside classroom sound systems and hearing technology integration (hearing aids, cochlear implants, bone-anchored hearing systems).
The organization's business model combines fee-for-service program delivery with philanthropic contributions. Approximately 70% of the operating budget is generated through service fees (preschool tuition, therapy sessions, audiology services, itinerant outreach contracts with 42 school districts), while approximately 30% is met through donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations, supplemented by annual galas, planned giving, donor-advised funds, and a newly added crypto donation channel. Referral channels include newborn hearing screenings, pediatricians, audiologists, and partnerships with Washington State Hands and Voices and OPTION Schools, Inc. Listen and Talk holds the Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency (2026) and is led by Executive Director Maura Berndsen, who has been with the organization since 1996 and assumed the ED role in 2018. The organization supports 28 different home languages, with roughly 50% of Birth to Three families requiring non-English services, positioning it as the only specialized LSL program in the Pacific Northwest with 29 years of continuous operation.
Listen and Talk firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Listen and Talk
- Legal name
- Listen and Talk
- Website
- https://listenandtalk.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Listen and Talk is a Kirkland, Washington-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1996 that provides specialized listening and spoken language programs for deaf and hard-of-hearing children from birth through school age, serving 233 students and over 200 families across Washington State through integrated therapy, preschool, audiology, and outreach services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Listen and Talk industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Special Education Services for Children with Hearing Loss
- NAICS
- Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (621340), Child Care Services (62441), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082), Services-Health Services (8000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Speech & Language Therapy (Early Intervention) (EDACAFAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Developmental Therapy / Early Childhood Special Instruction (EDACAFAG), Deaf/Hard of Hearing & Vision Services (Audiology, Interpreting, Orientation & Mobility) (EDAJAKAI), Inclusive Early Intervention & Transition-to-Preschool Services (EDACAFAM), Hearing Impairment & Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing Inclusive Childcare (HSAAAIAJ)
Keywords
Where Listen and Talk is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kirkland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Listen and Talk business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Program Service Fees: Fees charged for Birth to Three early intervention services, Blended Classroom preschool, Listening and Spoken Language therapy, and audiology services. Families may access services through insurance, early intervention funding, or private pay.
- Philanthropic Contributions: Approximately 30% of annual budget is met through donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Includes annual giving campaigns, gala events, planned giving, and donor-advised fund contributions.
- Outreach Services: Fee-for-service itinerant teacher of the deaf services provided to school districts statewide, including SDI (Specially Designed Instruction), RS (Related Services), and SAS (Supplementary Aids and Services)
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Half-Day Preschool (2.5 hours, 4 days/week) |
| Subscription | Monthly | Full Day Preschool (6 hours, 4 days/week) |
| Subscription | Monthly | Full-Day Pre-K (5 days/week) |
| Subscription | Monthly | Birth to Three Services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Listen and Talk product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Listen and Talk delivers specialized listening and spoken language (LSL) programs for children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing, from birth through school age. Services include in-home and virtual early intervention coaching (Birth to Three), an inclusive preschool where children with hearing loss learn alongside typically-hearing peers, ongoing LSL therapy, on-site audiology services, statewide itinerant teacher of the deaf outreach to school districts, and training for professionals. Families pay through insurance, early intervention funding, or private pay, with about 30% of the annual budget covered by philanthropic contributions.
Product overview
Listen and Talk provides specialized listening and spoken language programs for children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing from birth through school age. The organization operates as a unified service model consisting of seven interconnected programs: the Birth to Three Program (in-home and virtual coaching for children 0-3), the Blended Classroom Program (inclusive preschool with typical-hearing peers), Listening and Spoken Language Therapy (ongoing therapy sessions), Audiology Services (hearing assessments and device optimization), Outreach Services (statewide itinerant support), Training and Professional Development (internships and mentorship), and the Connecting Families Project (family mentorship network). Programs serve over 200 families in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties with additional families reached through virtual services statewide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Birth to Three Program In-home and virtual Listening and Spoken Language coaching program for families with children who have hearing loss from birth to age 3, providing weekly family coaching sessions during the most formative years of language development. LENA technology is used to track conversational turns and inform coaching.
- Blended Classroom Program (Preschool) Inclusive preschool program where children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing learn side-by-side with children who have typical hearing, featuring language-rich environments, small class sizes (max 8 children), and specialized listening and spoken language strategies. Offered as half-day, full-day, and full-day Pre-K options for children ages 3–5.
- Listening and Spoken Language Therapy 45-minute therapy sessions with speech-language pathologists or Listening and Spoken Language Specialists addressing the ongoing work needed to develop effective thinking and communication skills for children with all degrees of hearing loss.
- Audiology Services The Harry Levinson Memorial Audiology Center provides hearing assessments, hearing aid fitting, cochlear implant support, and daily hearing device checks to optimize students' access to sound. Serves classroom students and their families.
- Training and Professional Development Professional development services, internships, and mentorship programs for speech and hearing professionals looking to learn about listening and spoken language approaches, including support toward LSLS certifications.
- Outreach Services (Itinerant Teacher of the Deaf) Statewide itinerant teacher of the deaf services providing 1:1 direct services, IEP development, classroom observations, auditory and language assessment, in-services, and ongoing monitoring for students with hearing loss placed in neighborhood schools. Serves 42 school districts throughout Washington State with SDI, RS, and SAS support.
Quantifiable outcome
- 233 students currently enrolled
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Listen and Talk
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Listen and Talk technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Listen and Talk partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Washington State Hands and VoicescoreParent-driven organization dedicated to supporting families with children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing regardless of language or communication mode. Partnership provides unbiased emotional support and resources through the Guide By Your Side Program for families served by Listen and Talk.
- OPTION Schools, Inc.coreListen and Talk is a proud member of OPTION Schools, a network of listening and spoken language service providers. Membership provides access to best practices, professional development, and network of specialized schools.
- LENA TechnologysupportingLENA (Language ENvironment Analysis) technology is utilized in the Birth to Three Program. The wearable device and cloud-based software track conversational turns, providing families and Listen and Talk providers valuable insights to support a child's listening and spoken language journey.
- 42 School Districts (Washington State)coreListen and Talk has partnerships with 42 school districts throughout Washington State, providing itinerant teacher of the deaf services and support for children with hearing loss entering neighborhood schools.
- AG Bell Academy for Listening and Spoken LanguagesupportingExecutive Director Maura Berndsen volunteers in leadership roles for the AG Bell Academy, which certifies Listening and Spoken Language Specialists. The organization supports staff in obtaining LSLS certifications.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Listen and Talk competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- CID - Central Institute for the Deaf: Long-established nonprofit in St. Louis providing comprehensive deaf education, audiology, and professional training. Overlaps with Listen and Talk's service mix but operates at a broader institutional scale with research and graduate education programs.
Direct peers
- Center for Hearing and Speech: Houston-based nonprofit offering audiology, speech-language therapy, and early intervention services for children with hearing loss. Directly comparable service mix including Birth to Three family coaching and school-age therapy.
- Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech: Nonprofit with campuses in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania delivering listening and spoken language education, audiology, and early intervention services to children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Closely aligned mission, service mix, and family-coaching approach.
- St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf: St. Louis-based nonprofit providing listening and spoken language education and early intervention services for children who are deaf and hard of hearing. Comparable educational mission and multi-program cradle-through-school-age structure.
- Tucker Maxon School: Pacific Northwest oral school for children who are deaf or hard of hearing, located in the Seattle/Tacoma area. Operates a similar inclusive preschool model emphasizing listening and spoken language alongside typically-hearing peers, making it the closest local comparable.
- Moog Center for Deaf Education: St. Louis-based nonprofit specializing in listening and spoken language instruction and early intervention for children with hearing loss. Offers audiology, preschool, and parent-infant programs comparable to Listen and Talk's Birth to Three and blended classroom offerings.
- Hearts for Hearing: Oklahoma-based nonprofit providing comprehensive listening and spoken language services for children with hearing loss from birth through school age, including audiology, therapy, and family support. Operates a similar integrated cradle-through-school-age model under a single organizational umbrella.
- Sound Beginnings: University of Utah Health-affiliated early intervention program for infants and toddlers with hearing loss. Provides listening and spoken language family coaching and audiology services directly comparable to Listen and Talk's Birth to Three Program.
- River School: Washington DC-area listening and spoken language preschool and early intervention program serving children with hearing loss alongside hearing peers. Comparable inclusive blended-classroom philosophy and family-centered service delivery.
Others
- AG Bell Academy for Listening and Spoken Language: Professional organization that certifies Listening and Spoken Language Specialists (LSLS) and supports families of children with hearing loss. Not a direct competitor but a key ecosystem partner whose credentialing and family resources intersect with Listen and Talk's talent pipeline and referral flow.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Listen and Talk social profiles
Digital presenceListen and Talk financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Listen and Talk leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Listen and Talk funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Listen and Talk 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 Listen and Talk
What does Listen and Talk do?
Listen and Talk delivers specialized listening and spoken language (LSL) programs for children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing, from birth through school age. Services include in-home and virtual early intervention coaching (Birth to Three), an inclusive preschool where children with hearing loss learn alongside typically-hearing peers, ongoing LSL therapy, on-site audiology services, statewide itinerant teacher of the deaf outreach to school districts, and training for professionals. Families pay through insurance, early intervention funding, or private pay, with about 30% of the annual budget covered by philanthropic contributions.
Is Listen and Talk a public or private company?
Listen and Talk is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Listen and Talk founded?
Listen and Talk was founded in 1996. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Listen and Talk based?
Listen and Talk is headquartered in Kirkland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Listen and Talk make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Program Service Fees are the primary driver. The others are philanthropic Contributions and outreach Services.
Who are Listen and Talk's main competitors?
CID - Central Institute for the Deaf is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Center for Hearing and Speech, Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech, St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf, Tucker Maxon School, Moog Center for Deaf Education, Hearts for Hearing, Sound Beginnings and River School. AG Bell Academy for Listening and Spoken Language is listed as an others.
Does Listen and Talk have an API?
No public API is recorded for Listen and Talk.
What industry is Listen and Talk in?
Listen and Talk's product category is Special Education Services for Children with Hearing Loss. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDACAFAB, Speech & Language Therapy (Early Intervention), with a secondary code of EDACAFAG, Developmental Therapy / Early Childhood Special Instruction. Its NAICS code is 621340 and its SIC code is 8200.