July 11 • 2019 17
jn

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magine sitting next to a loved one and realizing 
that you are no longer able to hear them clearly. 
Or, ordering your favorite coffee and not being 
able to decipher what the barista asked. As with 
many adults, the aging process can cause hearing 
loss. Naturally, when a person cannot hear, they 
begin to withdraw from conversation. They may 
even stop engaging in activities they once loved. 
For many, not being able to hear clearly, and 
the lack of communication associated with it, can 
lead to depression or a feeling of isolation. Hearing 
providers Colleen Newman and Hillary Wright 
from Oakland Hearing Aid Center have made it 
their mission to help those struggling with hearing 
loss maintain their independence and connect with 
the world around them. 
“We have seen patients take up to five years 
before they seek help for hearing loss or become 
aware of the problem,” Newman says. “We want to 
raise awareness so that individuals are seeking help 
sooner, and loved ones know the importance of 
encouraging their family members to seek help.”
An early sign of hearing loss is an individual’
s 
need to have things repeated. 
“Another sign to watch for is a loved one 
answering questions inappropriately with an 
answer that does not make sense or is unrelated 
to what was asked,” Wright says. “These are the 
signs to have a conversation about hearing loss and 
consult a hearing professional to obtain a hearing 
test.”
In addition to an increase in depression or 
isolation caused by hearing loss, there are also 

safety factors to consider. Newman and Wright 
share the importance of ensuring that loved ones 
can hear noises like doorbells, ringing phones and 
fire alarms.
Communication is key to every part of our 
lives,” Newman says. “One of my favorite things 
to tell patients is, ‘
I want you to wear your hearing 
aids so you can hear better and enjoy life. I do not 
care if the dresser drawer hears better.’
 ”
Newman and Wright have spent more than 10 
years helping people enjoy a better quality of life 
through hearing assistance at Oakland Hearing 
Aid Center. The Farmington Hills office opened in 
2006, followed by a Royal Oak office in 2014. They 
work closely with the Rontal Clinic, a group of 
leading ENT specialists. 
Together, Newman and Wright have more 
than 40 years of experience working as hearing 
providers. Newman earned her bachelor’
s and 
master’
s degrees in audiology from Michigan State 
University and is licensed in audiology by the state 
of Michigan. She is also a member of the American 
Academy of Audiology and the American Speech-
Language Hearing Association.
“We are here to truly help patients realize what 

OAKLAND HEARING AID CENTER

28300 Orchard Lake Road, Ste 101
Farmington Hills
3555 West 13 Mile Road, Ste 200, Royal Oak
248-865-3327
oaklandhearingaidcenter.com

they are missing out on — the laughter of a loved 
one, the birds chirping and being able to engage in 
everyday conversation,” Newman says. “I entered 
into this profession to help make a difference in 
people’
s lives.”
Wright is a licensed hearing instrument 
specialist in Michigan. She has been a member 
of the International Hearing Society since 2011, 
receiving her national board certification in 2016. 
“Most patients tend to feel more like close 
friends and family to me,” Wright says. “There are 
so many great feelings we get to share together. 
Often, on the first visit, the patient is very quiet 
and not engaged. By their follow-up appointment, 
they seem like new, happier individuals that can 
enjoy the little moments in life more.”

Two local hearing 
providers help individuals 
regain quality of life 
through hearing.

BY ANDREA WALKER 
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIN KIRKLAND

Colleen Newman and Hillary Wright

A receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aid

The Joy of Hearing

SPONSORED BY OAKLAND HEARING AID CENTER

