Have you ever slept with the window in your bedroom open and awoke to the wonderful sound of birds singing just as the sun comes up? So happens, there’s a term for all those birdsongs: the dawn chorus. For whatever reason, birds see the sun coming up and decide to start belting out their favorite songs. Each species 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 hear the dawn chorus at all. And that’s unfortunate.
There are a lot of amazing sounds during the summer besides birdsongs that you might be missing. And if you find yourself oblivious to the sounds of summer, it might be due to some undiagnosed (or diagnosed and dismissed) 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.
Summer sounds
When you think about summer, you probably begin by visualizing the sun in a blue sky. And, a really, really hot sun (whew). And then you start to imagine the summer soundtrack that goes along with this vision. You may be thinking about:
- Peepers and crickets chirping a symphony as the sun goes down.
- The sound of your grandchildren laughing and playing.
- The sound of birds singing, especially in the spring during, ahem, mating season. (Humans aren’t the only species to use love songs.)
- The buzzing of bees as they fly around pollinating flowers and helping the landscape bloom.
- The babbling of a creek or the crashing of waves.
You get the idea. Summer is lively with amazing sounds. The experience and vibe of summer are considerably enhanced by these sounds. And these sounds by themselves bring great joy.
If these summer sounds (or any summer sounds) seem different to you these days, it’s most likely because a noticeable amount of hearing loss has successfully snuck up on you. If you have recognized your hearing loss then you need to get some help with it.
Your summer can be more enjoyable with hearing aids
For most people, hearing aids are really about creating connections. Communication is key. You’ll be more aware of what’s happening around you, better able to communicate with people around you, and enjoy the sounds in your life. And at those summer cook-outs, for instance, that’s even more relevant.
Contemporary hearing aids have some incredible technology that will help you savor those summer sounds. 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 a lot like charging your cellphone. This also makes vacationing with hearing aids much easier.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can sync your hearing aids to your smartphone and start making the most of all sorts of features. Many cell phones will now allow you to download apps that help you manage the settings on your hearing aids, so you can adjust for birdsong or grandkid’s laughter depending on what you want to hear at that time.
- Automatic programming: Modern hearing aids can automatically adjust to new environments or times of day, depending on how they’re programmed. This function makes them more reliable and easier to use.
- Noise reduction: You’ll want to get hearing aids that can differentiate particular sounds (your ears once did this) so you can appreciate 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.
- Machine learning: Your hearing aid can use “machine learning”, which are advanced intelligent algorithms, to adjust to your audio landscape before you even knew it needed to. In loud environments or when filtering out particular sounds, this can be especially handy.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Boating on the lake and want to listen to some tunes? Just sync the boat’s radio to your hearing aids via Bluetooth.
You can ask us about how your pair of hearing aids are suited to your favorite activities (for instance, you can ask whether you can use them while you’re going for a swim or hiking in the country, that type of thing). Hearing aids and water-sports don’t always play nice together. But all in all, your hearing aids will make your summer an all around richer experience.
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? And you should also ask, how can I safeguard my hearing aids from humidity? 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 vulnerable even if they don’t have pre-existing hearing loss. Some of those sounds include:
- Live music: Outdoor concerts are a big part of summer, but they can be harmful to your ears. This means you might want to be selective about which shows you see (rather than going to a festival every weekend).
- Fireworks: The dogs are on to something. Your hearing can definitely be harmed by fireworks. Similarly, 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 completely.
- Boat engines: Be cautious of how close you get and how long you spend around these engines because they are really loud. Try not to keep the motor idling when you’re fishing. Or, even better, put in some earplugs for the duration of your boat trip.
This list isn’t exhaustive. For individuals who are coping with hearing loss, summer may have a few less of these loud activities.
Having said that, you might not be capable of, or even want to, stay away from all loud noises over the summer. So what can you do? Well, you can use ear protection. For example, before you go to a live show, put in a pair of earplugs so you can minimize most 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 becomes more oppressive, if you have hearing loss, the summer sounds might seem like they’re getting further away. Which means, much of the joy of the season could pass you by.
Getting the most from your summer then, might require coming to see us. We will be able to determine whether your hearing is failing or not, and what type of hearing aid will best suit your needs.
So begin here if you’re ready to enjoy the dawn chorus. And you’ll also be able to enjoy all of the other awesome summer sounds.
Get a hearing tune-up this summer. Call us for a hearing test and find out if hearing aids are the right option for you.