Have you ever awoke after a night’s sleep and heard birds singing a delightful song through your open window? Most individuals probably don’t even know that those bird songs are called the “dawn chorus”. For whatever reason, birds see the sun coming up and decide to start singing their favorite songs. Each type of bird has its own kind of song, 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. And that’s unfortunate.
That’s especially true because it’s not just birdsong you may be missing out on. Summer is full of incredible sounds. And if you find yourself missing out on the sounds of summer, it may be because of some undiagnosed (or diagnosed and dismissed) hearing loss. The good news in these instances is that a device like a hearing aid may help you appreciate and enjoy your summer days more fully.
Summer sounds
When you think about summer, you probably start off imagining the sun in a blue sky. And, a very, very hot sun (whew). But if you stay in your imagination a little longer, you’ll start adding highlights that make this blue sky seem more like summer, the sounds that fill in the day. You may be thinking about:
- The sound of birds singing out mating songs. (Love songs aren’t just appreciated by humans.)
- Bees buzzing around helping nature bloom by pollinating flowers.
- The babbling of a brook or the crashing of waves.
- The sound of your grandchildren laughing and playing.
- Peepers and crickets chirping a symphony as the sun goes down.
These are just a few examples. There are a bunch of sounds going on. These are the sounds that complete your summer, give it quality, and help create that overall vibe. And these sounds by themselves bring great happiness.
If these summer sounds (or any summer sounds) seem different to you these days, it’s likely because an apparent level of hearing loss has effectively snuck up on you. Once you’ve noticed that issue, the next step is to take action.
Hearing aids can help you enjoy summer
For most, hearing aids are really about building 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 world. And at those summer barbecues, for example, that’s even more important.
Modern hearing aids have some amazing technology that will help you savor those summer sounds. Here are some instances of some of that potent technology:
- Rechargeability: You can recharge your hearing aid while sleeping and enjoy full batteries all through the day. It’s much like charging your phone. And when you travel with your hearing aids, it becomes very hassle free.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can begin to enjoy all kinds of features by connecting your hearing aid to your smartphone. 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.
- Automatic programming: Contemporary hearing aids can automatically adjust to new surroundings or times of day, depending on how you program them. This makes them easier to use and more reliable.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Out on the boat and want to listen to some music? Well, your hearing aids can be synced to the boat’s stereo using Bluetooth.
- Machine learning: Your hearing aid can utilize “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 eliminating specific sounds, this can be especially handy.
- Noise reduction: If you want to hear the crashing of the waves, but not the thunder of traffic behind you, you’ll want hearing aids that can help you sort through these sounds (in the same way your ears used to do). Modern hearing aids have substantial noise reduction capabilities, so you can hear what you actually want to hear.
We can help you learn how your specific hearing needs can be met by your hearing aids (you can ask us if you can bring your hearing aids into the water or on a mountain hike for instance). Hearing aids often don’t play well with water. 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 an issue with hot weather, for instance? Also, does humidity have any impact on my hearing aid and how can I safeguard it? Depending on the model of hearing aid, the answer to these questions will differ.
Maybe 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 are sounds that are, well, loud! And everyone’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 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 entirety of your boat trip.
- Fireworks: Dogs have the right idea. Your hearing can definitely be damaged by fireworks. This goes for both commercial and home launched fireworks. It’s best for your hearing to keep away from fireworks completely.
- Live music: Outdoor concerts are a big part of summer, but they can be harmful to your hearing. This means you might want to be particular about which shows you see (rather than going to a festival every weekend).
This is only a partial list. For individuals who are coping with hearing loss, summer may have a few less of these loud activities.
That said, you may not be capable of, or even want to, avoid all loud noises during the summer. So what can you do? Using ear protection is the best option. For example, before you go to a concert, put in a pair of earplugs so you can decrease a lot of the damage. You just need to make certain you’re using effective ear protection.
Enjoy the sounds of summer
If you have hearing loss, the sounds of summer might feel like they’re growing further and further away (even as the heat of summer gets more and more oppressive). Which means, much of the joy of the season could get lost.
Getting the most from your summer then, might require coming to see us. We can help figure out the state of your hearing and, if needed, help decide what type of hearing aid will best suit your needs.
So start here if you’re ready to enjoy the dawn chorus. Because birdsongs are just the beginning of those incredible 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 option for you.