By Chris Hagan
Review Staff Writer
Matt Kettlewell had been looking for a property in the Orion area for quite a while when he learned of a local building available.
His current building, located at 20 W. Clarkston Road, became available and he jumped at the opportunity. He had been looking to start his hearing impaired practice as way to help people who had been struggling with hearing loss.
After months of renovations, Kettlewell and his staff opened Suburban Hearing Clinic and received a warm welcome from residents of Oakland County, Orion Township, and the Orion Area Chamber of Commerce (OACC).
‘This is my first small business and I’m young and haven’t done it before and it’s been such a warm welcoming,? he said. ‘Everyone here has just been outstanding.?
Treating younger adults for hearing loss is not a common occurrence but the specialists at Orion’s newest business it might become one.
Kettlewell, who’s also the Hearing Instrument Specialist opened his new practice last Thursday and after the ribbon cutting, handshakes and applause, he expressed great concern for the area’s youth.
Unbeknownst to millions of Millennials, they’re at the beginning of what could be a very short road to hearing impairment. What rock concerts did to previous generations over decades, those little ear buds are doing at a quicker, more dangerous rate.
‘The headphones can get in excess of 100 decibels so it has to do with timing,? Kettlewell said. ‘For a 16 year-old to put that headset in from the second they go to school until they go to bed, that’s where the danger starts.?
The Northwood University graduate said that even though the danger is high with ear buds, the advancing technology in hearing aids is light years ahead of where it was 10 years ago. Hearing aids of today have longer battery life, are more discrete and have a level of technology never seen, or heard of before.
‘Where the industry has progressed in that last couple years we have hearing aids that connect directly into an iPhone or can be controlled through GPS.? Kettlewell said. ‘There’s apps that allow users to make changes to their hearing aids and can wear them for 12 to 14 hours a day.?
Kettlewell, who’s been an Orion resident for 10 years, is offering free annual screening to Lake Orion residents. Suburban Hearing Clinic can also make custom fit hearing protection that is far superior hearing protection purchased at home improvement stores.
He advises people to make an appointment as soon as there’s a negative change in a person’s hearing.
‘Anytime someone is seeing their hearing slip or just a decline in their cognitive abilities, it’s important to catch it at a very early time,? he said. ‘The sooner we can catch hearing loss and treat it with amplification, if appropriate, it’s so much more effective.?
Suburban Hearing Clinic is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Anyone with questions or looking to make an appointment can call 248-845-4741 or check Facebook.