Have you ever slept with the window in your bedroom open and awoke to the beautiful sound of birds singing just as the sun comes up? Most people probably aren’t even aware that those bird songs are called the “dawn chorus”. Birds see the sunrise and, for some reason, decide it’s time to belt out their best melody. The songs of these birds, when they’re all singing together, are a lovely symphony.
But you might not notice the “dawn chorus” at all if you have untreated hearing loss. Which is a shame.
There are a lot of amazing sounds during the summer besides birdsongs that you might be missing. And you may be missing those summer sounds because you have hearing loss that’s gone undiagnosed or simply ignored. But you can start to enjoy all of those wonderful summer sounds again with the help of a device like a hearing aid.
Summer sounds
When you think about summer, you likely begin by visualizing the sun in a blue sky. And, a really, really hot sun (whew). And then you begin to visualize the summer soundtrack that comes with this vision. Some sounds you might think about:
- The buzzing of bees as they fly around pollinating flowers and helping the landscape bloom.
- The sound of birds chirping, particularly in the spring during, ahem, mating season. (Humans aren’t the only species to use love songs.)
- The sound of your grandkids laughing and playing.
- The babbling of a stream or the crashing of waves.
- Peepers and crickets chirping a symphony as the sun sets.
These are only a few examples. There are lots of sounds happening. These are the sounds that fill in your summer, give it texture, and help establish that overall vibe. And these sounds in and of themselves bring great happiness.
If these sounds of summer (or any sounds of summer) seem different to you these days, it’s probably because an apparent amount of hearing loss has successfully crept 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 relationships is what hearing aids are really about for most. They’re about communication. They make it easier to converse with others, to hear what’s going on around you, and to enjoy the sounds that you hear. And that’s especially significant at those summer barbecues, for example.
Modern hearing aids have some fantastic technology that will help you savor those summer sounds. For example, most contemporary hearing aids offer:
- Noise reduction: If you want to hear the crashing of the 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). Modern hearing aids have substantial noise reduction features, so you can hear what you actually want to hear.
- Machine learning: Cutting-edge algorithms (called machine learning) can help your hearing aids adjust to what you need, even before you need it. This is particularly handy when filtering sounds or in a loud setting.
- Rechargeability: Your battery will remain charged all day after charging while you sleep at night. It’s much like charging your phone. And when you vacation with your hearing aids, it becomes especially hassle free.
- Automatic programming: Modern hearing aids can automatically adapt to new environments or times of day, depending on how they’re programmed. This function makes them more effective and simpler to use.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can start to appreciate all types of features by syncing your hearing aid to your smartphone. 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.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Out on the boat and want to enjoy some tracks? Just sync the boat’s radio to your hearing aids via Bluetooth.
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 usually don’t play well 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 an issue with hot weather, for instance? And you should also ask, how can I protect my hearing aids from humidity? The answer to both will depend on the model of hearing aid you use.
Perhaps avoid these sounds
Some summer sounds, unlike the dawn chorus, will be harmful to your hearing and you should be certain to avoid them. These are sounds that are, well, loud! And everybody’s ears are vulnerable even if they don’t have pre-existing hearing loss. Here are some of those sounds:
- Boat engines: These engines are loud, so use some caution about distance and duration. When you’re fishing, shut the engine off. Or, an even better plan would be to put in some earplugs.
- Fireworks: The dogs are on to something. Your hearing can definitely be harmed by fireworks. Similarly, being near 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 a lot of fun to go and see a live music concert but the loud volume can be harmful to your ears. So you may want to exercise some caution and be selective about which concerts you attend and wear earplugs.
This list isn’t exhaustive. For people who are dealing with hearing loss, summer might have a few less of these noisy events.
But even with hearing loss you probably won’t want to stay away from every loud summer activity. So what’s the solution? Wearing ear protection is the best option. For example, before you go to a live show, put in a pair of earplugs so you can reduce a lot of the damage. You just need to make sure you’re using reliable ear protection.
Enjoy the sounds of summer
If you have hearing loss, the sounds of summer could feel like they’re getting further and further away (even as the heat of summer becomes more and more oppressive). And that means you could miss a lot of the season’s joy.
Getting the most from your summer then, might require making a pit stop with us. We can help determine the state of your hearing and, if needed, help determine what kind of hearing aid will best suit your needs.
So if you want to appreciate the dawn chorus, that’s where you need to start. 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 exam and find out if hearing aids are the right choice for you.