Come reminisce, share stories, and help us celebrate this exciting milestone.

Join us as we celebrate 100 years of helping people of all ages hear, speak and communicate.

Guests are invited to explore 3 floors of fun at the Children’s Museum, so be sure to bring the kids along!

Free hearing screenings will be offered on a first come, first served basis.

Date: Thursday, May 2, 2024
Time: 5:00 - 7:30 PM
Cake cutting at 6:00 PM
Location: Children's Museum
+ Theater of Maine
250 Thompson's Point Rd.
Portland

This is a FREE event for invited guests only.

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Our History

Northeast Hearing & Speech was organized as a Speech Readers’ Club with 12 charter members, all hard of hearing adults. Its purpose was to prevent deafness, conserve hearing, and rehabilitate the hearing and speech handicapped.
January 1924
The Speech Readers’ Club collaborated with local schools to offer the first class in speech reading at Portland Evening School.
1926
The group raised funds to purchase the first audiometer in the State of Maine, a Maico 4 Audiometer, for use in screening children in public schools statewide.
1927
The Club began publication of the bulletin, The Pine Tree, to spread awareness about hearing loss and conservation. This publication continued for 14 years when World War II made it impossible to continue.
1928
The Speech Reacher’s Club was incorporated under Maine state law and invited to attend a White House conference by President Hoover.
1930
“The Hearing Center” opened in Portland offering evaluations and the opportunity to try various hearing aids prior to purchase from hearing aid dealers. Classes for hard of hearing children began.
1948
Recognizing that continuing the Center and expanding the program would be impossible without outside financial support, the Center sought out and secured funding from the Junior League of Portland, which supported the Center for two years.
1954
The Center was admitted to the Community Chest of Greater Portland, now called the United Way.
1956
The first full time audiologist/director, Sam Cheraso, was hired.
1957
Name change to Northeast Hearing and Speech Center, Inc.
1960
NEHSC helped to establish the Bangor Speech and Hearing Center, later renamed the Warren Center for Communication and Learning.
1961
Moved to the Time and Temperature building at 477 Congress Street, Portland.
1972
Celebrated the 50th anniversary. Received grants to purchase a GSI 1701 audiometer and impedance audiometer.
1974
Received endowment funding from Albert D. Conley.
1975
Moved to 43 Baxter Boulevard and became one of 300 accredited agencies in the U.S. by the Professional Services Board of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association.
1976
Began dispensing hearing aids.
1987
65th Birthday celebration--200 guests were entertained by a signing chorus from Cape Elizabeth Middle School, a barbershop quartet from the Downeasters and a signing mime. Mayor Cheryl Leeman delivered a proclamation citing unwavering commitment to the mission of NHS.
1989
Began offering continuing education programs. The first agency sponsored conference was titled "Counseling the Communicatively Disordered and their Families" presented by Dr. David Luterman. A Self Help for hard of Hearing group began meeting at Northeast.
1991
Celebrated the 70th Anniversary, hosted by the Downeasters Barbershop Chorus for dinner and tour.
1995
Celebrated the 80th Anniversary with a Casco Bay Cruise and a silent auction fundraiser.
2004
Began consulting for the Early Reading First Grant, a program through the Department of Education and the USM Muskie Institute to support early language and literacy in early childhood education programs. Became an ASHA CEU provider.
2006
Hosted Josh Blue, winner of NBC’s reality show Last Comic Standing, for a sold out fundraiser.
2007
Received endowment funding from Anne and Wadleigh B. Drummond. Provided expertise in interpreting tympanograms for a national research study about the effects of osteopathic manipulation on otitis media. Began working with UNE’s occupational therapy program sharing information with students.
2008
Moved to 75 West Commercial Street to expand services for adults and upgrade technology to better serve our clients and families.
2009
Began extensive training for early childhood educators and early intervention specialists about facilitating language with English Language Learners.
2010
Began using iPads in treatment, training, and research. Obtained ABR and began providing evaluations for children who did not pass newborn hearing screening. Hosted a Young@Heart fundraising concert.
2011
Several providers completed the Hanen Learning Language and Loving It program to become trainers for Early Childhood Education programs. Hosted Temple Grandin, Autism Advocate and World Renowned, speaker for a fundraising event.
2012
Completed iPad research study. Presented results of the iPad research at ASHA convention.
2013-2014
Produced an experimental film The Reel Snow White. Jackie Reifer and her team of adults with developmental differences were featured in the film at the Portland Museum of Art. Presented at ASHA—Five Books, Five Strategies: Facilitating Phonological Awareness in Preschool.
2015
Teletherapy for children with speech-language disorders and car side services for audiology clients initiated. EMR system introduced.
2020
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