SEPTEMBER 26 • 2019 | 51

ESTHER ALLWEISS INGBER
A

s some individuals age, 
responding “What?” to 
nearly everything said, is 
a curt way to ask that something 
be repeated. At other times, there 
may be no response at all because 
the speaker wasn’
t heard.
Such interactions can be frus-
trating to both parties. Social 
interactions may gradually 
become fewer and fewer, with 
the person being left out feeling 
isolated and even depressed.
These scenarios may be indica-
tive of hearing loss that requires a 
professional’
s evaluation.
A leading authority in the field 
is Oakland Hearing Aid Center 
(OHAC), which opened its 
first office in Farmington Hills 
in 2006 and a second office in 
Royal Oak eight years later. 
The licensed providers are 
Colleen Newman, an audiol-
ogist, and Hillary Wright, a 
board-certified hearing instru-
ment specialist. Both hearing 
health professionals have received 
extensive education and train-
ing in their respective areas of 
expertise, and they stay up to 
date with continuous education. 
Together, Newman and Wright 
offer 40 years of experience.
Oakland Hearing Aid Center 
is affiliated with the Rontal 

Clinic, a well-established group 
of ENT physicians. Rontal 
Clinic refers patients to OHAC 
for evaluation and education 
regarding their hearing loss.
OHAC utilizes comprehensive 
hearing evaluations to determine 
the best solution for patients’
 
hearing loss, 
with the goal 
of helping 
them regain 
“all the 
sounds the 
world has 
to offer,” as 
the website 
states.
Hearing 
aids come in 
a variety of 
configura-
tions with a 
multitude of features. Some use 
disposable batteries, while others 
are rechargeable. Most prefer the 
rechargeable option.
Amplification is used to 
increase the volume of the sound 
spectrum when hearing loss is 
experienced.
“Hearing aid manufacturers 
spend millions of dollars on the 
research and development of 
hearing aids,” Newman said. The 
sound processing that occurs 

within these devices is remark-
ably sophisticated.
The devices can be very dis-
creet and, depending on the 
model chosen, nearly undetect-
able. “The most popular hear-
ing aid is the receiver-in-canal 
(RIC),” Newman said. 
As with any-
thing new, there’
s 
an adjustment 
period in learn-
ing to use a hear-
ing aid. With 
time and prac-
tice, it becomes 
second nature. 
Users must be 
diligent and put 
the hearing aids 
on daily to stim-
ulate hearing.
Oakland Hearing 
Aid Center is dedicated to 
improving the quality of life 
for anybody with a hearing 
impairment. The professional 
staff at OHAC provides personal 
follow-up care every six months 
to assure their patients’
 new hear-
ing devices are working as they 
should. 
“OHAC also works to raise 
our patients’
 awareness of other 
health risks associated with hear-
ing loss, such as falls, dementia 

and diabetes,” Wright said. 
One of the most important 
health benefits of treating hear-
ing loss is improved cognitive 
comprehension, which improves 
patients’
 self-confidence. That 
leads to more enriched relation-
ships for them, greater indepen-
dence and a fuller life.
Concerning the cost of treat-
ment, Wright pointed out that 
OHAC will call on behalf of 
clients to determine the extent 
of their insurance coverage. 
Some in-house payment options, 
as well as plans that include 
CareCredit, are available. 
Without a doubt, the services 
OHAC provides can be life 
changing. Enabling patients to 
fully participate in conversations, 
to enjoy music and the sounds of 
nature, to not miss a grandchild’
s 
laughter — and so much more. 
Hearing moments like these are 
priceless pleasures!

ISTOCK

OAKLAND HEARING AID CENTER 
28300 Orchard Lake Road 
Suite 101 
Farmington Hills, MI 48334 
3555 W. 13 Mile Road 
Suite 200 
Royal Oak, MI 48073 
Phone for both locations: 
(248) 865-3327 
www.oaklandhearingaid.com

SPONSORED BY OAKLAND HEARING AID CENTER

Today’s modern hearing aids keep you in the conversation.
Life-Changing Device

Colleen Newman and Hillary Wright

PHOTO BY LINDSAY SANTILLI