Thursday, October 1, 2026
We don’t often think of our ears when we talk about wellness. Heart health, fitness, nutrition—those are the usual headliners. But what if we told you that taking care of your hearing could actually protect your brain, your mood, your relationships and more?
“Hearing loss is so much more than just missing a few words,” said Dr. Jennifer Savickis, a licensed audiologist with Ear Works Audiology. “Your brain processes everything you hear. So any type of hearing loss — even a very mild one — is a denial of sound to the brain.”
That denial, she explained, has ripple effects.
Your brain is constantly working to make sense of what you hear. When hearing is compromised, it has to fill in the blanks—constantly playing catch-up. “You might start mixing up words like ‘cat’ and ‘hat’ or ‘boy’ and ‘toy,’” Dr. Savickis said. “And when background noise gets added in, your brain is working overtime trying to sort through it all. That extra effort leads to fatigue, frustration, and over time, some people just give up on the conversation altogether.”
That’s when social isolation can creep in.
“We see people withdrawing from social situations—not because they’re antisocial, but because they just can’t enjoy or follow the conversation anymore,” Dr. Savickis said. “That kind of withdrawal can lead to loneliness, anxiety, even depression.”
Studies have also shown a link between untreated hearing loss and cognitive decline, including dementia and Alzheimer’s. “Your brain works on a ‘use it or lose it’ theory,” she explained. “So without sound stimulation, the brain can forget how to process speech. The longer you wait, the harder it is to retrain.”
Imagine the brain as a jigsaw puzzle. It's difficult to find the pieces and put them in the right place, and when you get to the end of the puzzle, we are missing a few pieces. We know what the puzzle should look like but it doesn’t look 100% so you need to guess and you get frustrated and then give up…..
It’s not just your brain that’s affected. “Think about it: if you’re always leaning in to hear, that affects your posture,” Dr. Savickis explained. “Poor posture can lead to neck and back issues. Add the constant stress and tension from trying to hear clearly, and you’re also looking at elevated blood pressure and increased anxiety.”
Other surprising side effects? Tinnitus—ringing, buzzing, or seashore sounds in the ears—can stem from hearing damage, stress and even neck issues. “We don’t know the exact cause, but we do know things like loud noise exposure, caffeine and high salt intake can make it worse,” she said.
Not sure if you’re experiencing hearing loss? Watch for signs like:
“Age 50 and up, it should be part of your annual physical,” Dr. Savickis advised. “Even if you don’t think you need hearing aids right away, having a baseline can help you make better decisions in the future.”
She added, “It’s funny—we’ll squint and immediately book an eye exam, but we’ll ignore struggling to hear in a restaurant. Why? Because of stigma.”
Ear Works Audiology wants to help. “We’re here to guide you—not push you,” Dr. Savickis said. “Just come in for a hearing wellness evaluation. You don’t have to do anything that day. But at least get the information.”
They encourage bringing a loved one to the appointment, especially someone you live or communicate with regularly. “Sometimes the person doesn’t realize what they’re missing. But their spouse or family member sees it clearly,” she said.
And for anyone concerned about bulky hearing aids or whistling devices—those days are long gone. Today’s hearing aids are small, discreet and even customizable to your sound preferences.
“We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach,” Dr. Savickis said. “Your hearing profile, your lifestyle and even your preferences for how sound feels all matter. We tailor every solution to the individual.”
Untreated hearing loss doesn’t just affect your ears. It can touch every aspect of your life—from how your brain functions to how you connect with others.
“But if your hearing is fixable, why wouldn’t you fix it?” Dr. Savickis asked. “Bring back your universe. Bring back your family dinners, your conversations, your music, your joy.”
For more information on Ear Works Audiology or to book an appointment, visit https://earworksaudiology.com/.
