Have you ever slept with your bedroom window open and woken up to the lovely sound of birds singing as the sun is coming 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 singing their favorite songs. Each type of bird 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 notice the dawn chorus at all. Which is a pity.
There are a lot of incredible sounds during the summer besides birdsongs that you might be missing. And if you find yourself missing out on the sounds of summer, it could be due to some undiagnosed (or diagnosed and ignored) hearing loss. The good news in these cases 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 likely start off imagining the sun in a blue sky. And, a very, very hot sun (whew). And then you begin to visualize the summer soundtrack that goes along with this vision. Some sounds you might think about:
- The sound of birds chirping, especially in the spring during, ahem, mating season. (Love songs aren’t just appreciated by humans.)
- The sound of frogs croaking at night, particularly in the early hours of the night.
- The crashing of waves on the beach (or a babbling creek if you’re in a more landlocked area).
- Bees buzzing about helping nature bloom by pollinating flowers.
- Something as basic as your grandkids laughing, maybe as they run about the yard or as you watch a baseball game with each other.
These are only a few examples. There are a bunch of sounds happening. The feeling and vibe of summer are significantly enhanced by these sounds. Plus, there is so much joy in these simple sounds themselves.
It’s possible that hearing loss might have snuck up on you, particularly if these or any other summer sounds sound to be foreign to you these days. If you have detected your hearing loss then you need to get some help with it.
Your summer can be more enjoyable with hearing aids
For most, hearing aids are really about building relationships. They’re about communication. They make it easier to talk to others, to hear what’s going on around you, and to appreciate the sounds that you hear. And at those summer barbecues, for instance, that’s even more relevant.
Contemporary hearing aids have some incredible technology that will help you savor those summer sounds. Here are some illustrations of some of that potent technology:
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Maybe you want some tunes while you’re out boating. Well, your hearing aids can be synced to the boat’s stereo via Bluetooth.
- Machine learning: Fancy algorithms (called machine learning) can help your hearing aids adapt to what you need, even before you need it. In loud settings or when eliminating specific sounds, this can be especially handy.
- Automatic programming: Contemporary hearing aids can automatically adjust to new surroundings or times of day, depending on how you program them. This makes them simpler to use and more effective.
- Rechargeability: You can recharge your hearing aid while sleeping and get full batteries all through the day. It’s much like charging your phone. This also makes traveling with hearing aids a lot easier.
- 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 (in the same way your ears used to do). Noise reduction features are normal in modern hearing aids so you will be capable of dialing in the sounds you want to hear.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can sync your hearing aids to your smartphone and start enjoying all sorts of features. Many cell phones will now permit you to download apps that help you manage 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 time.
We can help you discover how your particular hearing needs can be met by your hearing aids (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 livelier experience.
You’ll also want to ask us some standard questions about your hearing aid models. For instance, you should ask, can hot weather impact my hearing aids? And you should also ask, how do I safeguard my hearing aids from moisture in the air? The answer to both will depend on the model of hearing aid you have.
Some loud sounds you may want to steer clear of
As much as you love the sound of the dawn chorus, there are a few other summer sounds that could actually be damaging to your hearing, so you’ll probably want to steer clear of them. These are sounds that are, well, loud! And they’re damaging to everyone’s ears, not just those with pre-existing hearing loss. Here are some of those sounds:
- Live music: It’s great fun to go and see a live music concert but the loud volume can be damaging to your hearing. This means you might want to be particular about which shows you see (rather than attending a festival every weekend).
- Boat engines: These engines are loud, so exercise some caution about proximity and duration. Try not to leave the motor idling when you’re fishing. Or, an even better plan would be to put in some earplugs.
- Fireworks: Dogs have the right idea. Your hearing can most certainly be damaged by fireworks. This includes both commercial and home launched fireworks. Best to just avoid fireworks completely.
This is only a partial list. For people who are coping with hearing loss, summer might have a few less of these loud events.
Having said that, you might not be capable of, or even want to, avoid all loud noises during the summer. So what’s the solution? Using ear protection is the best strategy. Putting in a pair of earplugs before you go to any live music show can minimize a lot of the damage, for instance. You just need to make certain 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 may feel like they’re getting further away. And that means you could miss a lot of the season’s joy.
So you might need to come in and see us if you want to be certain that you get the most from your summer. We can help figure out the state of your hearing and, if needed, help determine what type of hearing loss will be the best choice for you.
So start 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 your hearing tuned up this summer. Schedule an appointment today to find out which hearing aids are best for you!
