Have you ever woken up after a night’s sleep and heard birds singing a pleasant song through your open window? Most individuals 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 belt out their best 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 neglected hearing loss, you may not hear the dawn chorus at all. And that’s sad.
There are lots of incredible 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 due to some undiagnosed (or diagnosed and ignored) hearing loss. But you can start to enjoy all of those wonderful summer sounds again with the help of a device like a hearing aid.
The sounds of summer
When you think about summer, you likely begin by visualizing the sun in a blue sky. And, a very, very hot sun (whew). And then you begin to imagine the summer soundtrack that goes along with this vision. Some sounds you may think about:
- Bees buzzing around helping nature bloom by pollinating flowers.
- The sound of frogs croaking at night, especially in the early hours of the night.
- The sound of your grandchildren playing and laughing.
- The sound of birds chirping, especially in the spring during, ahem, mating season. (Love songs aren’t just appreciated by humans.)
- The babbling of a creek or the crashing of waves.
These are only a few examples. Summer is lively with wonderful sounds. The experience and vibe of summer are greatly enhanced by these sounds. And these sounds by themselves bring great happiness.
If these summer sounds (or any summer sounds) seem different to you these days, it’s most likely because a noticeable level of hearing loss has effectively snuck up on you. If you have recognized your hearing loss then you should get some help with it.
Your summer can be more enjoyable with hearing aids
Building relationships is what hearing aids are really about for most. Communication is key. They make it easier to talk to others, to hear what’s going on around you, and to appreciate the sounds that you hear. And at those summer barbecues, for example, that’s even more relevant.
Modern hearing aids have some amazing technology that will help you bask in those summer sounds. For instance, most modern hearing aids offer:
- Smartphone compatibility: You can connect your hearing aids to your smartphone and begin making the most of all sorts of features. Depending on the particular hearing situation, you will be able to manage the settings on your hearing aids using an app you can download on most smartphones.
- Rechargeability: Your battery will remain charged throughout the day after charging when you are sleeping at night. Basically, you can charge your hearing aids the same way you charge your cellphone. This also makes traveling with hearing aids a lot easier.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Out on the boat and want to listen to some tracks? Well, your hearing aids can be synced to the boat’s stereo using Bluetooth.
- Automatic programming: You can dial in your modern hearing aids to automatically switch settings depending on the time of day or environment you find yourself in. This makes them easier to use and more reliable.
- Machine learning: Cutting-edge algorithms (called machine learning) can help your hearing aids adapt to what you need, even before you know you need it. This is particularly handy when filtering sounds or in a loud environment.
- Noise reduction: You’ll want to get hearing aids that can differentiate specific sounds (your ears once did this) so you can appreciate those crashing waves without having the traffic behind you amplified as well. Modern hearing aids have substantial noise reduction features, so you can hear what you actually want to hear.
We can help you learn how your particular hearing needs can be met by your hearing aids (you can ask us whether you can take your hearing aids into the water or on a mountain hike for instance). Hearing aids and water-sports don’t always play nice together. But in general, your hearing aids will make your summer an all around richer experience.
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 protect it? The answer to both questions will depend on the model of hearing aid you have.
Perhaps avoid these sounds
Some summer sounds, unlike the dawn chorus, will be harmful to your hearing and you should make sure to avoid them. These noisy sounds are a real hazard! And they’re damaging to everyone’s ears, not just people with pre-existing hearing loss. Some of those sounds include:
- Live music: Outdoor concerts are a fun part of summer, but they can be damaging to your ears. This means you may want to be particular about which shows you see (rather than going to a festival every weekend).
- Fireworks: Dogs have the right idea. Attending fireworks shows can certainly damage your hearing. This goes for both commercial and home launched fireworks. Best to just stay away from fireworks altogether.
- Boat engines: Be careful of how close you get and how long you spend around these engines because they’re really loud. When you’re fishing, shut the engine off. Or, an even better idea would be to use some earplugs.
This is only a partial list. Summer activities for individuals who have hearing loss might not include quite as many of those fireworks and loud noise situations.
But even with hearing loss you most likely won’t want to avoid every noisy summer activity. So what’s the strategy? Using ear protection is the best strategy. 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 essential that the hearing protection you chooses is reliable.
Have fun this summer and enjoy the sounds
As the heat of summer becomes more oppressive, if you are dealing with hearing loss, the summer sounds might feel like they’re getting further away. And that means you could miss a lot of the season’s joy.
So you may need to come in and see us if you want to make sure you get the most out of your summer. We will be able to figure out whether your hearing is waning or not, and what type of hearing aid will be best for your situation.
So begin here if you’re ready to enjoy the dawn chorus. Because birdsongs are only the beginning of those awesome summer sounds.
Get the most from your ears this summer and beyond. Call us for a hearing test and discover if hearing aids are the right choice for you.