Have you ever slept with the window in your bedroom open and awoke to the lovely sound of birds singing as the sun is coming up? Most people probably aren’t even aware that the name for those bird-songs is the “dawn chorus”. Birds see the sunrise and, for some reason, decide it’s time to sing out their favorite melody. Each type of bird has its own set of chirps and notes, and together, they sound like a symphony of nature.
Of course, if you have untreated hearing loss, you may not notice the dawn chorus at all. Which is a pity.
There are a lot of amazing sounds during the summer besides birdsongs that you could be missing. And if you find yourself missing out on the sounds of summer, it might be because of some undiagnosed (or diagnosed and ignored) hearing loss. The good news in these situations is that a device like a hearing aid could help you appreciate and more fully enjoy your summer.
The sounds of summer
You likely think of a very hot sun in a clear blue sky when you think of summer. And then you begin to imagine the summer soundtrack that comes with this vision. Some sounds you might think about:
- The sound of your grandchildren laughing and playing.
- The symphony of frogs croaking at night, especially in the early hours of the evening.
- The sound of birds singing, particularly in the spring during, ahem, mating season. (Love songs aren’t just enjoyed by humans.)
- Bees buzzing around helping nature bloom by pollinating flowers.
- The babbling of a brook or the crashing of waves.
These are just a few examples. Summer is lively with amazing sounds. The feeling and vibe of summer are significantly enhanced by these sounds. Plus, there is so much pleasure in these simple sounds themselves.
If these sounds of summer (or any summer sounds) seem foreign to you these days, it’s probably because an apparent level of hearing loss has successfully snuck up on you. Once you’ve noticed that problem, the next step is to take action.
Your summer can be more enjoyable with hearing aids
Building connections is what hearing aids are really all about for most. They’re about communication. They make it easier to talk to others, to hear what’s happening around you, and to enjoy the sounds that you hear. And that’s especially significant at those summer barbecues, for instance.
The latest models of hearing aids can help you bask in the sounds of summer, and they come with some rather amazing built in tech, as well. For instance, most modern hearing aids provide:
- Rechargeability: You can recharge your hearing aid while sleeping and enjoy full batteries throughout the day. It’s much like charging your cellphone. And when you travel with your hearing aids, it becomes very hassle free.
- Automatic programming: You can dial in your modern hearing aids to automatically adjust settings depending on the time of day or environment you find yourself in. This feature makes them more effective and easier to use.
- Machine learning: Your hearing aid can utilize “machine learning”, which are sophisticated intelligent algorithms, to adapt to your audio landscape before you even knew it needed to. This is especially convenient when filtering sounds or in a noisy environment.
- 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 out these sounds (just like your ears once did). Noise reduction features are normal in modern hearing aids so you will be capable of dialing in the sounds you want to hear.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can begin to appreciate all types of features by connecting your hearing aid to your smartphone. Depending on the specific hearing situation, you will be able to manage the settings on your hearing aids using an app you can download on most smartphones.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Boating on the lake and want to enjoy some music? Just sync the boat’s radio to your hearing aids via Bluetooth.
You can ask us about how your pair of hearing aids are appropriate for your favorite activities (you can ask us if 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.
You’ll also want to ask us some basic questions about your hearing aid models. 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 safeguard it? The answer to both will depend on the model of hearing aid you have.
Some loud sounds you may want to avoid
As much as you love the sound of the dawn chorus, there are a few 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. Some of those sounds include:
- Fireworks: Dogs have the right idea. Attending fireworks shows can definitely damage your ears. Likewise, being close to home-launched fireworks can also be damaging to your ears (and limbs). Best to simply stay away from fireworks altogether.
- Boat engines: These engines are loud, so exercise some caution about distance and duration. Try not to keep the motor running when you’re fishing. Or, even better, pop in some earplugs for the duration of your boat trip.
- Live music: It’s great fun to attend a live music concert but the loud volume can be harmful to your hearing. This means you may want to be selective about which shows you see (rather than attending a festival every weekend).
This is only a partial list. Summer fun for people with 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 loud summer activity. So what can you do? Well, you can wear ear protection. For example, before you go to a live show, put in a set of earplugs so you can decrease a lot of the damage. You just need to make sure you’re using effective ear protection.
Have fun this summer and enjoy the sounds
As the heat of summer gets more oppressive, if you are dealing with hearing loss, the summer sounds may feel like they’re getting further away. Which means, a lot of the joy of the season could get lost.
Getting the most out of your summer then, may mean making a pit stop with us. We will be able to determine whether your hearing is waning or not, and what type of hearing aid will best suit your needs.
So start here if you’re ready to appreciate the dawn chorus. Because birdsongs are only the beginning of those awesome summer sounds.
Get the most out of your ears this summer and beyond. Call us for a hearing exam and discover if hearing aids are the right choice for you.