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? 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 sing out their favorite melody. Each species has its own kind of song, and together, they sound like a symphony of nature.
But you may not notice the “dawn chorus” at all if you have neglected hearing loss. And that’s unfortunate.
That’s particularly true because it isn’t just birdsong you might be missing out on. Summer is full of amazing sounds. And if you find yourself missing out on the sounds of summer, it could be the result of some undiagnosed (or diagnosed and dismissed) hearing loss. But you can start to enjoy all of those amazing summer sounds again with the help of a device like a hearing aid.
The sounds of summer
When you think about summer, you most likely start off visualizing the sun in a blue sky. And, a really, really hot sun (whew). But if you stick with your imagination a bit longer, you’ll begin adding details that make this blue sky feel more like summer, the sounds that fill out the day. Some sounds you might think about:
- The sound of birds performing mating songs. (Love songs aren’t just enjoyed by humans.)
- The sound of frogs croaking at night, particularly in the early hours of the night.
- The buzzing of bees as they fly around pollinating flowers and helping the landscape bloom.
- The sound of your grandchildren laughing and playing.
- The babbling of a creek or the crashing of waves.
These are just a few examples. Summer is lively with amazing sounds. The feeling and vibe of summer are significantly enhanced by these sounds. Plus, there is so much happiness in these simple sounds themselves.
If these sounds of summer (or any sounds of summer) seem foreign to you these days, it’s probably because an apparent amount of hearing loss has successfully crept up on you. If you have noticed your hearing loss then you need to get some help with it.
Hearing aids can help you enjoy summer
For most, hearing aids are really about building connections. Communication is key. 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 at those summer cook-outs, for example, that’s even more relevant.
Modern hearing aids have some fantastic technology that will help you bask in those summer sounds. Here are some examples of some of that potent technology:
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Maybe you want some music playing while you’re out boating. Just sync the boat’s radio to your hearing aids via 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. This is especially handy when filtering sounds or in a loud setting.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can start to appreciate all types of features by syncing your hearing aid to your cellphone. Many phones will now enable 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 settings or times of day, depending on how you program them. This makes them simpler to use and more effective.
- Noise reduction: If you want to hear the sound of crashing waves, but not the thunder of traffic behind you, you’ll want hearing aids that can help you sort through these sounds (just like your ears once did). Noise reduction features are common in modern hearing aids so you will be capable of dialing in the sounds you want to hear.
- Rechargeability: Your battery will remain charged throughout the day after charging when you are sleeping at night. Basically, you can charge your hearing aids in the same way you charge your cellphone. This also makes traveling with hearing aids a lot easier.
You can ask us about how your pair of hearing aids are suited to your favorite adventures (for instance, you can ask whether you can use them while you’re swimming or hiking up a mountain, that type of thing). 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. For example, you should ask, can hot weather impact my hearing aids? Also, does humidity have any effect on my hearing aid and how can I safeguard it? The answer to both questions will depend on the model of hearing aid you have.
Some loud sounds you may want to avoid
As much as you enjoy the sound of the dawn chorus, there are some other summer sounds that could actually be harmful to your hearing, so you’ll probably want to steer clear of them. These are sounds that are, well, noisy! And they’re harmful to everyone’s ears, not just those with pre-existing hearing loss. Here are some of those sounds:
- Fireworks: Dogs have the right idea. Your hearing can most certainly be harmed by fireworks. This goes for both commercial and home launched fireworks. Best to just avoid fireworks altogether.
- Boat engines: Be careful of how close you get and how long you spend around these engines because they are very loud. When you’re fishing, turn the engine off. Or, even better, put in some earplugs for the entirety of your boat trip.
- Live music: Outdoor concerts are a great part of summer, but they can be harmful to your ears. So you might want to use some caution and be picky about which shows you attend and wear earplugs.
This list is not exhaustive. Summer activities for people who have hearing loss might not include quite as many of those fireworks and loud noise conditions.
But even with hearing loss you probably won’t want to avoid every loud summer event. So what’s the solution? Well, you can use ear protection. Popping in a set of earplugs before you go to any live music show can minimize a lot of the damage, for instance. You just need to make sure you’re using reliable ear protection.
Enjoy the sounds of summer
If you are dealing with hearing loss, the sounds of summer could feel like they’re getting 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 get lost.
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 can help identify the state of your hearing and, if needed, help determine what kind of hearing aids will best suit your needs.
So start here if you’re ready to enjoy the dawn chorus. And you’ll also be able to enjoy all of the other wonderful summer sounds.
Get the most from your ears this summer and beyond. Schedule an appointment today to find out which hearing aids are right for you!
