Columbus Speech & Hearing ends clinic-based speech therapy after financial strain, continues audiology and ASL programs

A long-running provider reshapes its services

Columbus Speech & Hearing has ended its clinic-based speech therapy services, a major shift for a central Ohio nonprofit that says it has served the community for more than a century. The organization has told clients it will transition clinic speech services to other providers in the region, while keeping other programs operating.

The change was publicly outlined in a “Speech Clinic Update” dated Dec. 15, 2025. In that notice, the organization said it could no longer sustain clinic-based speech services at the needed level of quality and consistency because of ongoing financial pressures.

What is changing—and what is staying

Columbus Speech & Hearing’s message distinguishes between clinic-based speech therapy and other parts of its work. The organization said it will continue:

• School-based speech services
• Audiology services
• American Sign Language (ASL) instruction
• Support Service Provider (SSP) services

The organization also listed its audiology offices as remaining open in Clintonville, Westerville, and Dublin, and provided a phone number for questions related to accessing medical records.

Financial pressures cited as the driver

In explaining the decision, Columbus Speech & Hearing cited rising operating costs, stagnant reimbursement rates, and a funding environment it described as increasingly challenging for maintaining clinic-based speech services. Earlier fundraising materials published by the organization in 2025 described financial limits on access and stated that more than 8,000 people are impacted by its programs each year.

Transition logistics for families and patients

To support continuity of care, Columbus Speech & Hearing posted a referral list intended to help families locate alternative providers across central Ohio. It also made available a release-of-information form for clients who want to transfer or exchange records with third parties, including new providers or family members.

Columbus Speech & Hearing said it would continue to assist with records requests during the transition and has directed clients to contact its front office for help.

How the change fits into the local care landscape

The closure of a clinic-based program can increase short-term pressure on nearby systems that already manage high demand for pediatric and adult speech-language services. Nationwide Children’s Hospital operates multiple outpatient speech pathology clinic sites in and around the Columbus region, including locations in Westerville, Clintonville, Dublin, and other nearby communities.

For affected families, the practical next steps center on securing records, contacting insurance providers, and arranging evaluations and scheduling with new clinics—actions that can determine whether therapy plans continue with minimal interruption.