Constance Brown Hearing Centers

Genuine Hearing Health Care
+ Advanced Hearing Aid Technologysm

Since 1942 we have been listening to our patients and helping them enjoy a lifetime of hearing better.

As a nonprofit agency we work to prevent, identify, evaluate and rehabilitate problems caused by hearing disorders. We perform diagnostic testing and prescribe hearing aids, but we also offer advocacy and specialized programs that serve area residents from birth to old age.

Our audiology team has over 100 combined years of clinically certified experience. Each of our audiologists is certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, is professionally active, and has expertise in many areas of audiology.

Doctors and patients have trusted Constance Brown Hearing Centers for 65 years. You can trust us, too.

New Clinic Director Named

Ed Smith, has been named Clinic Director for Constance Brown Hearing Centers effective April 14, 2008. Mr. Smith has been a staff audiologist for the past four years at Higgins Hearing Aids. Prior to Higgins Hearing Aids, he was Clinical Director at The William and Leni Carls Speech and Hearing Clinic of Munson Medical Center in Traverse City for twenty-three years. 

Mr. Smith received his Masters of Science from Western Michigan University and his Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Michigan University. He received his Certificate of Clinical Competency in Audiology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association in 1977.  He has a Michigan Audiology License and State of Michigan Hearing Aid Dealer License. In 1984 he received the Distinguished Service Award from the Michigan Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Join us for the 4th Annual 5K Walk for Better Hearing
Sunday, May 18, 2008 at Celery Flats in Portage
Registration begins at 12 noon, walk starts at 1:00 p.m

When: 
Sunday, May 18
Where:
Celery Flats in Portage
How:
Registration begins at noon; walk begins at 1:00 p.m.
Forms available in mid-April at both offices
Why:
All proceeds will benefit hearing services for low income individuals served by CBHC
 
Organized by Psi Iota Xi

Generous Supporters

With generous support from the following foundations and businesses CBHC has been able to provide assistance to patients with financial need.

• Dorothy Upjohn Dalton Foundation
  
• The Gary Sisters Foundation
  
• Greater Kalamazoo United Way
  
• Harold & Grace Upjohn Foundation
  
• Kalamazoo Rotary
  
• Kiwanis Club of Kalamazoo
  
• Oticon Inc.
  
• Ronald McDonald House Charities of Outstate Michigan
  
• Starkey Laboratories
  
• Wal-Mart, Gull Road Kalamazoo
  
• Widex Pediatric Hearing Assistance Program

FREE Hearing Aid Cleaning Clinics:
Constance Brown Hearing Centers offers Free Hearing Aid Cleaning Clinics on the first Monday of most months from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The 2008 schedule will be January 7, February 4, March 3, April 7, May 5, June 2, July 7, August 4, October 6, November 3 and December 1. (No clinic in September.) Click here to see our flyer or follow the Services link for more details. Clinics made possible with support from The Harold & Grace Upjohn Foundation.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Hearing Aid - 2008 Class Schedule
If you wear a hearing aid or you live with someone who does, Constance Brown Hearing Centers offers bi-monthly classes that will help someone with a hearing aid communicate better. 2008 Class Schedule: March 5 and 12, May 7 and 14,  June 4 and 11, July 9 and 16, August 6 and 13, September 10 and 17, November 5 and 12.  Click here to see our flyer or follow the Services link for more details.

Community Service

Constance Brown Hearing Centers is a member agency of the Greater Kalamazoo United Way. We are also an approved provider for many insurance carriers as well as the Michigan Department of Public Health Children’s Special Health Care Services.

We also accept major credit cards and most insurance. Some insurance companies will cover a portion of hearing aids or hearing testing. Click here to see a list of insurance companies that may offer hearing benefits. This list does not guarantee that your specific plan offers this benefit. Contact your insurance company for exact information.

In 2007, through the support of the community, CBHC provided diagnostic services, hearing aid selections and fittings, repairs, and treatment and therapy for 6,379 patient contacts in our office, at area industries and in the Kalamazoo Public Schools. With continued support we will be able to meet the 2008 goal of raising $130,000. Please click here to learn more about how people in our community are contributing towards helping others live more enriching lives.

We look forward to serving you.

YOU MAY HAVE A HEARING LOSS IF…

• You hear people speaking but you strain to understand their words.

• You frequently ask people to repeat what they said.

• You don’t laugh at jokes because you miss the story or the punch line.
  
  
• You frequently complain that "people mumble."
  
  
• You ask others about details of a meeting you just attended.
  
  
• You play the TV or radio louder than friends, spouse and relatives.
  
  
• You cannot hear the doorbell or the telephone.
  
  
• You find that when people look directly at you while they speak to you, it makes it easier to understand.

If you agree with any of these statements, please contact us to schedule a hearing test.

Are you confused about what’s the difference between a hearing test, a hearing screening and an audiometric evaluation? Click here to read an article on hearing loss and hearing tests.

Constance Brown Hearing Centers certified audiologists from left to right:  Nicki Mulford, Kate Hamann, Rachel Clayton, Nancy Gallihugh Kim Kragt, and Renee Koffend.

Our Patient Care Philosophy

With professionalism and genuine care, we are committed to providing personalized service and advanced technology to help each individual find the right solution to change their lives.

Areas of Expertise

• Auditory electrophysiology
• Auditory rehabilitation
• Central auditory processing
• Clinical audiology
• Early hearing loss detection and intervention
• Hearing aids
• Hearing conservation (industrial audiology)
• Pediatric audiology

Professional Affiliations

• Academy of Rehabilitative Audiology
• American Academy of Audiology
• American Auditory Society
• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
• Educational Audiology Association
• Michigan Academy of Audiology
• National Hearing Conservation Association

Professional Activities

• Michigan Hearing Aid Licensing Examiner
• State of Michigan Audiology Licensure Board
• Quota International of Kalamazoo
• Hearing Loss Association of Kalamazoo (Formerly SHHH–Kalamazoo Chapter)

Contact Information:

Toll Free: 877.343.2601
Phone: 269.343.2601
Email: info@cbrown.org (For appointment information, please call our office.)
Fax: 269.343.9257

1634 Gull Road Kalamazoo Medical Arts Building		4855 W. Centre Avenue Oak Park Center

Office Locations

Oak Park Center (click for map)
4855 W. Centre Avenue (building entrance and parking is located off 12th Street)
Portage, MI 49024
(Office closed from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.)

Please note that construction on I94 and US131 may require you to take a detour. That detour will add 20-40 minutes to your travel time.

As of 4/18/08 these are the detour instructions we can provide. However ramps and lanes may be closed or opened unexpectedly.
Visit MDOT's website for the most current lane and ramp closings - http://mdotwas1.mdot.state.mi.us/public/LaneClosure/index.cfm

These ramps are closed at US131 & I94 interchange beginning 4/12 through November:

• Eastbound I94 to both north AND south US131
• Northbound US131 to east AND west I94
• Westbound I94 to south US131
• Southbound US-131 to eastbound I-94 is currently open, however, will experience a two week closure to construct a temporary ramp 4-12-08 thru 4-30-08

What IS OPEN at I94 and 131?

• Westbound I94 to north US131
• Southbound US131 to west I94 (temporary closures possible)

Please note these detours may add an additional 20-40 minutes to your trip!

To get to our Portage office from eastbound I94:

• Take I94 exit 72 to 9th Street. Turn left (north) onto 9th Street.
• At Stadium Drive turn right (east).
• At US-131, take southbound exit to Centre Avenue (exit 31).
• Turn right (west) at exit ramp traffic light.
• Turn left (south) at next traffic light (within 1 block of exit ramp) onto 12th Street.
• Office building is first building on your left, lower front level of the building.
• Parking is to your right as you enter the driveway.

To get to our Portage office from westbound I94:

• Take I94 exit 72 to 9th Street. Turn right (north) onto 9th Street.
• At Stadium Drive turn right (east).
• At US-131, take southbound exit to Centre Avenue (exit 31).
• Turn right (west) at exit ramp traffic light.
• Turn left (south) at next traffic light (within 1 block of exit ramp) onto 12th Street.
• Office building is first building on your left, lower front level of the building.
• Parking is to your right as you enter the driveway.

To return to I94:

• Turn right (north) as you exit our parking lot
• Turn right (east) at traffic light onto Centre Avenue
• Turn left (north) after overpass onto northbound US131
• Exit at Stadium Drive, take the westbound exit
• At 9th Street, turn left (south), then when you come to the I94 entrance ramps, you may take east or west whichever you may need to return home.