What Marion Downs Center does

Marion Downs Center is a nonprofit 'Center of Excellence' headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado (Denver metro area) that provides audiology, speech-language pathology, early literacy, and occupational hearing conservation services. Founded in 1918 and named after Marion Downs — a pioneering figure in pediatric audiology who developed newborn hearing screening techniques — the organization operates from a new clinic at 5570 DTC Parkway Suite 200 (opened September 29, 2025) and serves patients across the lifespan, from infants through seniors. Its core clinical offerings include comprehensive hearing evaluations, hearing aid fitting and programming with real-ear calibration, tinnitus consultation including ultra-high frequency audiometry, pediatric speech-language therapy, and specialized hearing protection (custom earplugs for musicians, shooters, and industrial workers).

The center operates three program pillars that diversify its revenue and reach. KidScreen provides hearing, vision, speech, and language screenings at schools and childcare centers, screening 2,000-4,000 children annually across 31 Denver Great Kids Head Start centers and other preschools. Marion's Way is a Listening and Language Camp for deaf/hard-of-hearing children ages 3-5 held at Anchor Center. The Occupational Hearing Conservation program, established in 1972, deploys mobile hearing testing to 300+ industrial sites per year, testing 200,000+ employees across OSHA- and MSHA-regulated industries in Colorado. Sub-brands include 'Living Well with Hearing Loss' (free monthly workshops) and 'Marion's Way' (specialized pediatric intervention).

The business model is a hybrid nonprofit structure: clinical audiology and speech-language therapy generate professional-services revenue (typically insurance-reimbursed), hearing aids and custom hearing protection contribute hardware sales, occupational contracts provide B2B recurring revenue, and donations plus fundraising events (e.g., the 2026 Legacy Reception with sponsorships from $500-$3,000) subsidize financial-assistance programs and free community services. The organization differentiates on a no-sales-commission, evidence-based, wellness-focused clinical model with community partnerships spanning healthcare providers, schools, Head Start programs, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind, and deaf/hard-of-hearing advocacy organizations.

Name

Marion Downs Center

Legal name

Marion Downs Center

Website

https://mariondowns.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Marion Downs Center is a Denver-metro nonprofit providing audiology, speech-language, early literacy, and occupational hearing conservation services to children, adults, seniors, and industrial employers across Colorado, anchored by its KidScreen school program and 300-site mobile hearing conservation program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Audiology and Hearing Healthcare Services

NAICS

Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (621340), Outpatient Care Centers (6214), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Audiology & Hearing Diagnostic Centers (HLAFAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outpatient Rehabilitation & Physical/Occupational/Speech Therapy Centers (HLAFABAB), Related Therapy Services (Speech, Occupational, Physical, Feeding) (EDAJAKAD), Transition & School-Readiness Support for Special Needs Children (HSAAAIAO)

Keywords

• Audiology services
• Hearing aids fitting
• Speech language therapy
• Occupational hearing conservation
• Pediatric hearing screening

Headquarters

HQ city

Greenwood Village

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Clinical Audiology Services: Audiology evaluations, hearing tests, hearing aid fittings, and related clinical services for individuals with hearing loss. Revenue generated from patient services, typically covered by health insurance.
2. Speech-Language Therapy: Pediatric and adult speech and language therapy services, including evaluation and treatment for various communication disorders.
3. Occupational Hearing Conservation Services: OSHA-compliant hearing testing and conservation programs for employers. On-site testing services for noise-exposed workers at industrial and commercial sites across Colorado.
4. Hearing Technology Products: Sale of hearing aids, tinnitus therapy devices, and custom hearing protection products including earplugs for musicians, shooters, and industrial use.
5. Donations and Fundraising: Nonprofit funding through donations, legacy receptions, and community fundraising events to support affordable services and financial assistance programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Marion Downs Center is a nonprofit organization that delivers clinical audiology services (hearing evaluations, hearing aid fittings, tinnitus consultation, custom hearing protection), pediatric speech-language therapy, and occupational hearing conservation testing for employers. Its portfolio also includes community programs such as KidScreen childhood screenings and Marion's Way Listening and Language Camp for deaf/hard-of-hearing children, supported by donations and fundraising.

Product overview

Marion Downs Center is a nonprofit "Center of Excellence" providing hearing, speech/language, and early literacy services. The organization operates as a services-based healthcare practice rather than a software product company. Its portfolio includes clinical audiology services (hearing tests, hearing aids, tinnitus consultation), pediatric speech-language therapy, specialized hearing protection products (custom earplugs, in-ear monitors), occupational hearing conservation programs, and community education programs including KidScreen school screenings and Living Well with Hearing Loss workshops. The center emphasizes evidence-based solutions and a wellness approach to hearing and communication challenges.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KidScreen: Screening program providing hearing, vision, speech and language screenings throughout the Denver metro region for children at childcare centers, preschools, Head Start sites, and schools.
• Marion's Way
• Living Well with Hearing Loss

Products and services

• Audiology Evaluations and Comprehensive Hearing Tests for Adults Diagnostic hearing tests, audiometry evaluations, and consultation services for adult patients experiencing hearing loss or seeking baseline assessments. Delivered by clinical audiologists (AuD) at the Greenwood Village clinic.
• Hearing Aids and Hearing Aid Fitting Provision of prescription hearing aids with fitting, real-ear measurement calibration, programming, and ongoing support. Patient-centered process with no sales commissions, emphasizing evidence-based device selection.
• Tinnitus Consultation and Therapy Tinnitus assessment using tinnitus matching (pitch and loudness) and ultra-high frequency audiometry, plus therapy devices, habituation training, and sound generation therapy for patients with tinnitus.
• Pediatric Hearing Services Hearing testing and intervention services for children from infancy through adolescence, including follow-up after newborn hearing screenings.
• Speech-Language Therapy Evaluation and treatment for speech and language disorders including speech articulation, language development, apraxia, and aphasia. Provided by speech-language pathologists (MA, CCC-SLP) for children and adults.
• Custom Hearing Protection Earplugs Custom-fitted earplugs from precise ear mold impressions, including products for musicians, shooters (Westone DefendEar Digital DX5), motor sports, sleeping, and industrial use (Phonak Serenity).
• Hearing Health Services for Musicians and Audio Professionals Custom in-ear monitors, hearing protection designed for musicians, hearing health education, and tinnitus consultation for audio professionals.
• Occupational Hearing Conservation Program (OSHA/MSHA) OSHA- and MSHA-compliant occupational hearing conservation services including on-site audiometric testing via mobile testing trailer, noise measurements, noise mapping, noise exposure assessments, and custom hearing protection for industrial clients. Tests 200,000+ employees at 300+ sites per year across Colorado.
• KidScreen Childhood Screening Program School- and childcare-based screening program providing hearing, vision, speech, and language screenings for children at childcare centers, preschools, Head Start sites, charter schools, and private K-8 schools. Screens 4,000+ children annually.
• Free Early Childhood Screenings Free early childhood screenings for hearing, vision, and speech/language development for children ages 0-4.
• Marion's Way Listening and Language Camp 2-week preschool program (Marion's Way Summer Camp) for deaf/hard-of-hearing children ages 3-5 with English spoken language levels of 2-5 years, combining speech and language therapy with early literacy. Includes 2+ parent information sessions. Scholarships available.
• Living Well with Hearing Loss Workshops Free monthly educational workshops led by MDC clinical audiologists covering communication strategies, hearing technology, and hearing health, with open Q&A. Available in-person and via Zoom.
• On-Site Audiology Services for Senior Living Communities On-site audiology services delivered at assisted living and retirement communities, including ear canal examinations, audiometric testing, bone conduction thresholds, hearing aid checks, and consultation for hearing assistive technology.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 200,000 employees tested annually at 300+ industrial sites through occupational hearing conservation program
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Youth on RecordminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 September 2025Dr. Caleb Kronen presented on hearing loss prevention to musicians at the Get Loud Music Summit organized by Youth on Record in Denver. Partnership focuses on hearing health education for young artists and musicians.
• Denver Great Kids Head Start ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2025KidScreen program partnership provides health screenings in hearing, vision, and speech/language for multiple agencies and private schools. Denver Great Kids Head Start Program supports thirty-one childcare centers and over 1,100 children ages 0 to 5 across the Denver metro area.
• Colorado School for the Deaf and BlindcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 January 2024ASL Immersion Workshop collaboration offering Beginning I ASL classes taught by Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind instructors. Classes held at 4280 Hale Parkway, Denver, CO 80220. Tuition: $120 for 8 weeks.
• Colorado Hands & VoicescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 December 2021Ongoing collaboration for holiday parties and community events supporting deaf/hard of hearing children and their families. Organized events including Marion Downs Holiday Party 2021 with support from multiple organizations.
• Ascent Program (Colorado EHDI Program)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 December 2021Collaboration with Ascent Program at Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind for support of deaf/hard of hearing children and families. Provides resources and programmatic support.
• LinguabeeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 December 2021Community partner providing support for deaf/hard of hearing community events including Marion Downs Holiday Party.
• Lions Club of DenverminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 11 December 2021Community partner supporting Marion Downs Center events and programs for the deaf/hard of hearing community.
• Anchor CentercoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMarion's Way Listening and Language Camp is held at the Anchor Center location at 2550 Roslyn Street, Denver 80238. This specialized camp serves deaf/hard-of-hearing children ages 3-5.
• Division of Vocational RehabilitationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGovernment referral program that sends clients to Marion Downs Center for hearing aids and related services. Example: Steve was referred for new hearing aids through this program.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• GN Hearing (ReSound): Global hearing aid manufacturer behind the ReSound and Beltone brands; comparable to Marion Downs Center's hearing technology dispensing, custom hearing protection, and clinical audiology services as a large established incumbent.
• Sonova (Phonak): Global hearing healthcare group whose Phonak brand supplies hearing aids and audiology solutions; comparable to Marion Downs Center's hearing aid dispensing and pediatric audiology offerings but operating at much broader scale across hardware, cochlear implants, and retail audiology.
• Children's Hospital Colorado: Regional pediatric healthcare system offering audiology, speech-language therapy, and developmental services; comparable to Marion Downs Center's pediatric audiology, speech-language therapy, and screening programs at larger institutional scale.

Direct peers

• Miracle-Ear: National retail hearing aid and audiology chain providing hearing tests, hearing aids, and related services; competes for the same adult hearing loss patient segments as Marion Downs Center, though with a sales-driven retail model versus the nonprofit clinical approach.
• Mobile Health: Provider of on-site occupational health screenings, including hearing conservation testing for employers; directly comparable to Marion Downs Center's mobile OSHA/MSHA hearing conservation program serving 300+ sites and 200,000+ workers annually.
• HearUSA: Network of audiology clinics and hearing aid dispensing centers across the US; comparable to Marion Downs Center in core clinical audiology and hearing aid services, with broader geographic reach.
• Starkey Hearing Technologies: Major US-based hearing aid manufacturer and audiology service provider; directly comparable to Marion Downs Center's hearing aid fitting, custom hearing protection, and clinical audiology service lines, though at vastly larger national scale.
• Anchor Center for Blind Children: Denver-based nonprofit providing early intervention and education for children with vision impairments; directly comparable to Marion Downs Center's Marion's Way Listening and Language Camp and KidScreen pediatric screening model, with overlapping donor and partner ecosystems in the Denver disability community.
• Beltone: US hearing care retailer offering hearing assessments, hearing aids, and follow-up services through a franchise network; directly comparable to Marion Downs Center's adult audiology and hearing aid dispensing business.

Others

• Cochlear Limited: Global implantable hearing solutions provider; adjacent peer to Marion Downs Center's pediatric and adult hearing services, particularly relevant for the deaf/hard-of-hearing pediatric population served through Marion's Way.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/mariondownsc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/marion-downs-center

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 Marion Downs Center