Have you ever awoke after a night’s sleep and heard birds singing a pleasant song through your open window? Turns out, there’s a name for all those birdsongs: the dawn chorus. Birds see the sunrise and, for some reason, decide it’s time to belt out their favorite melody. The songs of these birds, when they’re all sounding together, are a beautiful symphony.
Of course, if you have untreated hearing loss, you may not notice the dawn chorus at all. Which is a shame.
That’s especially true because it isn’t just birdsong you may be missing out on. Summer is full of incredible sounds. And if you find yourself oblivious to the sounds of summer, it might be due to some undiagnosed (or diagnosed and ignored) hearing loss. The good news in these instances is that a device like a hearing aid may help you appreciate and more fully enjoy your summer.
Summer sounds
You probably think of a very hot sun in a clear blue sky when you think of summer. And then you begin to visualize the summer soundtrack that comes with this vision. You might be thinking about:
- Peepers and crickets chirping a symphony as the sun goes down.
- The sound of your grandkids playing and laughing.
- The buzzing of bees as they fly around pollinating flowers and helping the landscape bloom.
- The sound of birds singing, particularly in the spring during, ahem, mating season. (Love songs are not just enjoyed by humans.)
- The babbling of a stream or the crashing of waves.
You get the point. Summer is alive with wonderful sounds. The experience and vibe of summer are greatly enhanced by these sounds. Plus, there is so much happiness in these everyday summertime sounds themselves.
If these sounds of summer (or any sounds of summer) seem different to you these days, it’s likely because a noticeable level of hearing loss has effectively snuck up on you. Once you’ve detected that issue, the next step is to do something about it.
Hearing aids can help you enjoy summer
Building connections is what hearing aids are really all about for most. Communication is key. They make it easier to talk to others, to hear what’s going on around you, and to enjoy the sounds that you hear. And at those summer cook-outs, for example, that’s even more important.
Modern hearing aids have some incredible technology that will help you bask in those summer sounds. For instance, most modern hearing aids offer:
- Noise reduction: You’ll want to have hearing aids that can sort through particular sounds (your ears once did this) so you can enjoy those crashing waves without having the traffic behind you amplified as well. Noise reduction features are common in modern hearing aids so you will be capable of dialing in the sounds you want to hear.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Boating on the lake and want to listen to some music? Well, your hearing aids can be connected to the boat’s stereo via Bluetooth.
- Rechargeability: Your battery will remain charged all day after charging while you sleep at night. It’s a lot like charging your phone. This also makes vacationing with hearing aids a lot easier.
- 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 convenient when filtering sounds or in a loud setting.
- Automatic programming: You can dial in your modern hearing aids to automatically change settings depending on the time of day or environment you find yourself in. This function makes them more effective and easier to use.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can connect your hearing aids to your smartphone and begin making the most of all kinds of features. Depending on the particular hearing situation, you will be able to control the settings on your hearing aids using an app you can download on most smartphones.
We can help you learn how your specific hearing needs can be met by your hearing aids (you can ask us if you can take your hearing aids into the water or on a mountain hike for instance). Hearing aids frequently don’t play well with water. But you will have a deeper overall summer experience with your hearing aids.
Also, asking us basic questions about your hearing aid model will be a practical plan. 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? Depending on the model of hearing aid, the answer to these questions will vary.
Maybe avoid these sounds
Some summer sounds, unlike the dawn chorus, will be harmful to your ears and you should be certain to steer clear of 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:
- Live music: It’s a lot of fun to attend a live music concert but the loud volume can be damaging to your ears. So you might want to use some caution and be selective about which shows you attend and wear earplugs.
- Fireworks: Dogs have the right idea. Going to fireworks shows can definitely harm your hearing. Furthermore, being close to home-launched fireworks can also be damaging to your hearing (and limbs). It’s best for your hearing to stay away from fireworks entirely.
- Boat engines: These engines are loud, so exercise some caution about distance and exposure time. When you’re fishing, shut the engine off. Or, even better, put in some earplugs for the duration of your boat trip.
This is only a partial list. Summer activities for individuals with hearing loss may not include quite as many of those fireworks and loud noise situations.
But even with hearing loss you most likely won’t want to stay away from every noisy summer event. So what can you do? Well, you can use ear protection. For example, before you go to a live show, put in a set of earplugs so you can minimize a lot of the damage. But it’s important that the hearing protection you chooses is effective.
Enjoy the sounds of summer
If you are dealing with hearing loss, the sounds of summer may feel like they’re growing further and further away (even as the heat of summer gets more and more oppressive). Which means, a lot of the joy of the season could pass you by.
So you might need to come in and see us if you want to make sure you get the most out of your summer. We can help determine the state of your hearing and, if necessary, help decide what type of hearing aids will best suit your needs.
So if you want to appreciate the dawn chorus, that’s where you should start. Because birdsongs are just the beginning of those awesome summer sounds.
Get a hearing tune-up this summer. Call us for a hearing assessment and discover if hearing aids are the right choice for you.