Have you ever awoke after a night’s sleep and heard birds singing a delightful song through your open window? Most people probably aren’t even aware that the name for those bird-songs is the “dawn chorus”. For whatever reason, birds see the sun rising and choose to start belting out their favorite songs. The songs of these birds, when they’re all sounding together, are a lovely symphony.
But you might not hear the “dawn chorus” at all if you have untreated hearing loss. Which is a shame.
There are lots of incredible sounds during the summer besides birdsongs that you may be missing. And you may be missing those summer sounds because you have hearing loss that’s gone undiagnosed or simply dismissed. The good news in these instances is that a device like a hearing aid could help you appreciate and more fully enjoy your summer.
The sounds of summer
When you think about summer, you likely start off imagining the sun in a blue sky. And, a really, really hot sun (whew). And then you start to visualize the summer soundtrack that comes with this vision. Some sounds you might think about:
- The sound of birds singing, especially in the spring during, ahem, mating season. (Love songs are not just appreciated by humans.)
- Bees buzzing around helping nature bloom by pollinating flowers.
- The symphony of frogs croaking at night, especially in the early hours of the evening.
- The sound of your grandchildren playing and laughing.
- The babbling of a creek or the crashing of waves.
These are just a few examples. Summer is alive with amazing sounds. These are the sounds that fill in your summer, give it quality, and help create that overall vibe. And these sounds in and of themselves bring great joy.
It’s possible that hearing loss may have crept up on you, particularly if these or any other summer sounds seem to be foreign to you these days. Once you’ve noticed that issue, the next step is to do something about it.
Your summer can be more enjoyable with hearing aids
Building connections is what hearing aids are really about for most. Communication is key. They make it easier to converse with others, to hear what’s happening around you, and to appreciate the sounds that you hear. And that’s particularly important at those summer barbecues, for instance.
The newest models of hearing aids can help you savor the sounds of summer, and they are equipped with some rather amazing built in tech, as well. For example, most contemporary hearing aids offer:
- Smartphone compatibility: You can start to appreciate all kinds of features by syncing your hearing aid to your cellphone. Many cell phones will now allow you to download apps that help you control the settings on your hearing aids, so you can adjust for birdsong or grandchildren’s laughter depending on what you want to hear at that moment.
- Automatic programming: You can dial in your modern hearing aids to automatically change settings depending on the time of day or setting you find yourself in. This makes them easier to use and more reliable.
- Noise reduction: If you want to hear the sound of crashing waves, but not the roar of traffic behind you, you’ll want hearing aids that can help you sort through these sounds (just like your ears used to do). Noise reduction features are normal in modern hearing aids so you will be capable of dialing in the sounds you want to hear.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Maybe you want some music playing while you’re out boating. Well, your hearing aids can be synced to the boat’s stereo via Bluetooth.
- Rechargeability: You can recharge your hearing aid while you sleep and enjoy full batteries throughout the day. Basically, you can charge your hearing aids the same way you charge your cellphone. And when you travel with your hearing aids, it becomes really hassle free.
- Machine learning: Fancy algorithms (called machine learning) can help your hearing aids adapt to what you need, even before you know you need it. This is especially handy when filtering sounds or in a noisy environment.
You can ask us about how your set of hearing aids are suitable for your favorite adventures (you can ask us whether you can take your hearing aids into the water or on a mountain hike for instance). Hearing aids usually don’t get along with water. But you will have a richer overall summer experience with your hearing aids.
Also, asking us basic questions about your hearing aid model will be a practical idea. Will your hearing aids have a problem with hot weather, for instance? Also, does humidity have any effect on my hearing aid and how can I protect it? The answer to both will depend on the model of hearing aid you have.
Maybe avoid these sounds
As much as you enjoy the sound of the dawn chorus, there are some other summer sounds that could actually be damaging to your hearing, so you’ll probably want to avoid them. These noisy sounds are a real hazard! And everyone’s ears are at risk even if they don’t have pre-existing hearing loss. Here are a few of those sounds:
- Fireworks: Dogs have the right idea. Attending fireworks shows can undoubtedly damage your hearing. Furthermore, being close to home-launched fireworks can also be harmful to your hearing (and limbs). It’s best for your hearing to stay away from fireworks completely.
- Live music: It’s great fun to attend a live music concert but the loud volume can be harmful to your ears. So you may want to use some caution and be selective about which concerts you attend and use earplugs.
- Boat engines: These engines are loud, so exercise some caution about proximity and exposure time. Try not to keep the motor idling when you’re fishing. Or, an even better idea would be to use some earplugs.
This list isn’t exhaustive. Summer fun for individuals who have hearing loss may not include quite as many of those fireworks and loud noise situations.
But even with hearing loss you probably won’t want to stay away from every noisy summer event. So what can you do? Using ear protection is the best strategy. Popping in a pair of earplugs before you see any live music show can minimize much of the damage, for instance. You just need to make sure you’re using effective ear protection.
Have fun this summer and enjoy the sounds
If you have hearing loss, the sounds of summer might feel like they’re growing further and further away (even as the heat of summer becomes more and more oppressive). And that means you might miss a lot of the season’s joy.
Getting the most out of your summer then, might mean making a pit stop with us. We will be able to determine whether your hearing is failing or not, and what kind of hearing aid will best suit your needs.
So if you want to enjoy the dawn chorus, that’s where you need to begin. Because birdsongs are only the beginning of those incredible summer sounds.
Get your hearing tuned up this summer. Schedule an appointment today to find out which hearing aids are right for you!