Columbus Speech & Hearing is a nonprofit clinic in central Ohio with over 100 years of history treating communication disorders. Right now, our funding limits who can access us.
You can make a direct impact in our work. When you donate, get involved as a volunteer, request an appointment, or simply recommend us to a friend — you help create possibilities for the 8,000+ people we serve every year.
Who We Are & What We Do
As a nonprofit healthcare clinic, we are committed to serving anyone who needs us — regardless of their ability to pay. We accept most private insurance policies, TRICARE for Life, Medicaid, and Medicare. We also offer free and sliding-scale options for low-income seniors who need hearing aids.
Columbus Speech & Hearing (CSH) provides crucial care for those living with communication needs, including children who have speech delays and/or hearing loss, teens and adults with developmental differences that impact speech, DeafBlind individuals who need help navigating their community, and so many more.
CSH is proud to be a long-standing resource in our community. Learn more about our organization and history at ColumbusSpeech.org/About-Us/.
You Can Help Kids like Oliver
When you get involved with our organization’s mission, you help people like the Rao family.
Ten years ago, Baby Oliver Rao had just failed his newborn hearing screening. The Raos faced a frightening diagnosis of hearing loss and an impossible price tag for hearing aids.
Our clinicians were patient and kind, guiding the Rao family to apply for a grant in order to put Baby Oliver in his first pair of hearing aids. The clinicians helped alleviate the family’s fears and financial stress so that the Raos could focus on their hopes for Baby Oliver’s future.
Our clinicians and client families could tell you hundreds of success stories like this one. Today, we’re asking for you to invest in hope for the future.
Speech & Hearing Statistics in Ohio
Nearly 17% of people in central Ohio will experience hearing loss in their lifetime. This equates to 425,000 individuals in central Ohio. Many will wait an average of 7 years before seeking help. Your involvement in our organization can help us reach these people earlier and prevent further damage to their hearing, health, and wellbeing.
Approximately 1 in 10 children will have a communication disorder related to speech, language, voice, or swallowing. About half (50%) of these children do not receive intervention or therapy. This equates to 58,000 children in central Ohio.
Learning to read can become a huge challenge for children with a communication disorder. Time is of the essence for children younger than five who have a hearing loss or communication delay. Clinicians at Columbus Speech & Hearing believe that early intervention makes a life-long impact.
The Need Continues to Grow
CSH conducts speech and hearing screenings in vulnerable Columbus
neighborhoods each year. Since 2019, speech and hearing screening failure rates have
dramatically fluctuated, but seem to be trending upwards overall. Research suggests that the COVID-19 shutdown might have contributed to an increase in speech-language delays nationwide.
Speech Screening Failure Rates
Hearing Screening Failure Rates
Increase Our Impact in the Community
We believe that everyone deserves the chance to communicate and connect. With your help, Columbus Speech & Hearing can reach more individuals and families in our community who need our services.
No matter how you choose to give to CSH, your contribution makes a huge difference in the lives of those we serve and their loved ones. We greatly appreciate your support of our nonprofit and welcome you on our journey to help people improve communication for life!