July 11 • 2019 17
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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