Have you ever woken up after a night’s sleep and heard birds singing a delightful song through your open window? Most individuals 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 sing out their favorite melody. The songs of these birds, when they’re all sounding together, are a lovely symphony.
But you may not notice the “dawn chorus” at all if you have untreated hearing loss. And that’s sad.
That’s particularly true because it isn’t just birdsong you may be missing out on. Summer is full of incredible sounds. And you may be missing those summer sounds because you have hearing loss that’s gone undiagnosed or simply neglected. The good news in these instances is that a device like a hearing aid could help you appreciate and more fully enjoy your summer.
Summer sounds
You most likely think of a really hot sun in a clear blue sky when you think of summer. But if you stay in your imagination a little longer, you’ll start incorporating highlights that make this blue sky seem more like summer, the sounds that fill in the day. You might be thinking about:
- The sound of birds singing out mating songs. (Humans aren’t the only species to utilize love songs.)
- The crashing of waves on the beach (or a babbling creek if you’re in a more landlocked area).
- The sound of your grandchildren laughing and playing.
- The buzzing of bees as they fly around pollinating flowers and helping the landscape bloom.
- Peepers and crickets chirping a symphony as the sun goes down.
These are only a few examples. There are a bunch of sounds happening. The experience and vibe of summer are greatly enhanced by these sounds. Plus, there is so much happiness in these everyday summertime sounds themselves.
It’s possible that hearing loss might have crept up on you, especially if these or any other summer sounds seem to be different to you these days. Once you’ve detected that issue, the next step is to take action.
Your summer can be more enjoyable with hearing aids
For most people, hearing aids are really about building connections. Communication is key. They make it easier to converse with others, to hear what’s happening around you, and to enjoy the sounds that you hear. And that’s particularly important at those summer barbecues, for instance.
Contemporary hearing aids have some fantastic technology that will help you savor those summer sounds. For instance, most modern hearing aids provide:
- 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 out 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 really want to hear.
- Machine learning: Your hearing aid can use “machine learning”, which are sophisticated intelligent algorithms, to adjust to your audio landscape before you even recognized it needed to. This is particularly convenient when filtering sounds or in a noisy setting.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can sync your hearing aids to your cellphone and begin making the most of all kinds of features. Many cell phones will now allow you to download apps that help you control the settings on your hearing aids, so you can fine-tune for birdsong or grandchildren’s laughter depending on what you want to hear at that moment.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Maybe you want some music playing while you’re out on the boat. Just sync the boat’s radio to your hearing aids using Bluetooth.
- Rechargeability: You can recharge your hearing aid while you sleep and enjoy full batteries throughout the day. Basically, you can charge your hearing aids in the same way you charge your cellphone. And when you vacation with your hearing aids, it becomes especially stress free.
- Automatic programming: Modern hearing aids can automatically adjust to new environments or times of day, depending on how they’re programmed. This makes them simpler to use and more effective.
We can help you learn how your particular hearing needs can be met by your hearing aids (for example, you can ask whether you can use them while you’re going for a swim or hiking up a mountain, that sort of thing). Hearing aids frequently don’t play well with water. But as a whole, your hearing aids will make your summer an all around livelier experience.
You’ll also want to ask us some standard questions about your hearing aid models. Will your hearing aids have a problem with hot weather, for example? Also, does humidity have any impact on my hearing aid and how can I protect it? The answer to both questions will depend on the model of hearing aid you use.
Some loud sounds you may want to steer clear of
Some summer sounds, unlike the dawn chorus, will be harmful to your hearing and you should make sure to steer clear of them. These loud sounds are a real hazard! And they’re harmful to everyone’s ears, not just those who have pre-existing hearing loss. Here are a few of those sounds:
- Live music: It’s a lot of fun to go and see a live music concert but the loud volume can be damaging to your ears. So you might want to use some caution and be selective about which concerts you attend and use earplugs.
- Boat engines: These engines are loud, so use some caution about proximity and duration. When you’re fishing, shut the engine off. Or, better yet, put in some earplugs for the duration of your boat trip.
- Fireworks: Dogs have the right idea. Attending fireworks shows can definitely harm your ears. Similarly, being near home-launched fireworks can also be harmful to your ears (and limbs). Best to just stay away from fireworks altogether.
This list is not exhaustive. Summer fun for individuals with hearing loss may not include quite as many of those fireworks and loud noise situations.
That said, you may not be able to, or even want to, avoid all loud noises during the summer. So what can you do? Using ear protection is the best option. Putting in a set of earplugs before you go to any live music show can minimize much of the damage, for instance. 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 gets more oppressive, if you are dealing with hearing loss, the summer sounds may seem like they’re getting further away. And that means you could miss a lot of the season’s joy.
Getting the most from your summer then, may mean making a pit stop with us. We can help determine the state of your hearing and, if necessary, help determine what type of hearing aids will best suit your needs.
So if you want to enjoy 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 or Text Us for a hearing assessment and discover if hearing aids are the right option for you.