Most adults know they should schedule an annual physical, stay active, drink more water, and get better sleep. But fewer people realize how much their eyes, ears, and mouth influence their overall health — including cognitive clarity, social connection, cardiovascular strain, and day-to-day energy.
The Neck-Up, Check-Up was created after three Broomfield clinicians joined forces for a presentation at the Broomfield Area Chamber office, realizing their shared experiences pointed to a bigger community need. Each of them regularly meets patients struggling with fatigue or foggy thinking, without knowing the cause is often above the shoulders. Their collaboration is designed to bring this insight to more residents — and to show how working with a coordinated team of specialists can transform long-term well-being.
The team — Dr. Michelle Aueyung (NuVision), co-owners Chelsea Walters and Jennifer La Borde (Family Hearing), and Dr. Jenna Nicholson (The Smile Suite) — share a common mission: to help people understand the surprising ways their specialties overlap, and how addressing small issues early can dramatically improve quality of life.
When “Something Feels Off” Has a Physical Cause
Many adults don’t bring up symptoms like mental fog, overwhelm in noisy environments, or increased tension headaches because they assume it’s stress, age, or simply “life.” But the Neck-Up, Check-Up providers consistently see another story.
Vision
Even small vision changes can increase cognitive load. When the eyes strain to focus — from uncorrected prescriptions, screen fatigue, or functional issues — the brain works harder to interpret what it sees. That can show up as:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Mental fatigue
- Irritability
- Headaches
- Slower processing
Dr. Aueyung, located off 136th and Zuni, often explains that the eyes are essentially an extension of the brain. When vision becomes harder, thinking often does too.
Hearing
Most people don’t realize they have hearing fatigue until it’s pointed out. Mild hearing loss is often first noticed as difficulty processing speech in background noise, which forces the brain to “fill in the blanks” during conversations. That extra effort creates strain, especially in crowded or noisy environments.
Dr. Brittany Howard, who can be found at the Broomfield office off Nickel St, frequently sees people who feel socially overwhelmed, exhausted after gatherings, or disconnected in conversations, only to discover the root cause is hearing loss.
Oral Health
The mouth is tightly linked to systemic health. Inflammation in the gums can reflect — or contribute to — cardiovascular stress, immune challenges, and metabolic changes. Elevated blood pressure is often first detected during routine dental visits.
Dr. Nicholson's holistic approach means she looks beyond the teeth themselves, connecting oral health with what might be happening in the rest of the body. Her office is conveniently located at 112th and Federal.
Three Specialists, One Shared Perspective
What makes the Neck-Up, Check-Up powerful isn’t just the information — it’s the collaboration.
These three professionals come from different fields, yet they see overlapping patterns in their patients every day.
- A patient with headaches may discover the issue is visual strain.
- Someone feeling socially withdrawn may actually be struggling to hear speech in noise.
- Gum inflammation may point to elevated blood pressure or systemic inflammation.
By sharing their perspectives, they show how health isn’t isolated. What happens in one system often impacts another.
The message is simple but eye-opening: If you’re not feeling like yourself, it’s worth looking at the areas you may be overlooking.
The Hidden Workload Above the Shoulders
The term the team often uses is “cognitive load.”
Cognitive load is the amount of mental effort required to carry out everyday tasks. When your eyes, ears, or mouth aren’t functioning optimally, your brain picks up the slack — quietly, constantly, and often without symptoms that clearly point to the source.
This can lead to:
- Increased fatigue
- Irritability or overwhelm
- Trouble multitasking
- Difficulty following conversations
- Reduced mental clarity
- Social exhaustion
- Sleep disruption
People usually don’t connect these symptoms to vision, hearing, or oral health, but that’s where the Neck-Up, Check-Up team comes in — helping people understand what’s actually happening in their bodies.
Simple Check-Ups, Significant Impact
What makes this approach so empowering is that the solutions often start with simple, routine evaluations:
- A thorough eye exam using advanced imaging and functional testing.
- A hearing assessment that evaluates both hearing levels and speech in noise testing.
- A dental exam that not only checks for cavities, but also includes gum health, inflammation assessment, and blood pressure screening.
None of these tests is dramatic or invasive. Yet all three can reveal early indicators of larger issues — or uncover the silent strain the body has been quietly coping with.
As the providers explain in their workshops, these check-ups don’t just identify problems. They often restore ease: easier reading, easier listening, easier thinking, and easier connecting with others.
Why This Matters for the Community
The Neck-Up, Check-Up is more than a presentation — it’s a shift in how residents think about their health. By shining a light on the connections between vision, hearing, oral health, and whole-body wellness, these professionals empower people to take proactive steps to prevent years of unnecessary strain.
Most importantly, they are building a resource for the community where:
- Questions are welcomed
- Information is understandable
- People feel supported rather than overwhelmed
- Early detection and education are prioritized
Their unified perspective helps people realize they don’t need to wait until something feels “wrong.” Regular care from specialists can reveal how interconnected the body really is — and how much better life can feel when everything above the neck is functioning in harmony.
Looking Ahead
The Neck-Up, Check-Up team will continue to host presentations and screenings throughout the year, offering education, assessments, and guidance to residents seeking a clearer, more connected understanding of their health.
The takeaway is simple and empowering: If you care for your body from the neck up, the benefits ripple through your entire life.
“When visual tasks become effortful, the brain spends extra energy just to interpret what you see. That’s where fatigue begins.”
— Dr. Michelle Aueyung, NuVision Broomfield
“People think they’re exhausted because they’re busy. Often, they’re exhausted because their brain is working overtime just to keep up in conversations.”
— Chelsea Walters, Family Hearing Broomfield