Have you ever slept with the window in your bedroom open and awoke to the wonderful sound of birds singing as the sun is coming up? So happens, there’s a term 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 type of bird has its own set of chirps and notes, and together, they sound like a symphony of nature.
But you may not hear the “dawn chorus” at all if you have untreated hearing loss. Which is a shame.
That’s especially true because it’s not just birdsong you may be missing out on. Summer is full of amazing sounds. And you might be missing those summer sounds because you have hearing loss that’s gone undiagnosed or simply dismissed. The good news in these situations is that a device like a hearing aid could help you appreciate and more fully enjoy your summer.
The sounds of summer
You likely think of a really hot sun in a clear blue sky when you think about summer. And then you begin to visualize the summer soundtrack that comes with this vision. You might be thinking about:
- Bees buzzing around helping nature bloom by pollinating flowers.
- The crashing of waves on the beach (or a babbling creek if you’re in a more inland area).
- Peepers and crickets chirping a symphony as the sun sets.
- Something as simple as your grandchildren laughing, possibly as they run around the yard or as you catch a baseball game with each other.
- The sound of birds chirping, especially in the spring during, ahem, mating season. (Love songs aren’t just appreciated by humans.)
You get the point. There are a bunch of sounds happening. The feeling and vibe of summer are considerably enhanced by these sounds. Plus, there is so much happiness in these everyday summertime sounds themselves.
It’s possible that hearing loss may have snuck up on you, particularly if these or any other summer sounds seem to be foreign to you these days. Once you’ve noticed that problem, the next step is to do something about it.
Hearing aids can help you enjoy summer
Building connections is what hearing aids are really all about for most. 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 that’s particularly significant at those summer barbecues, for instance.
The latest models of hearing aids can help you savor the sounds of summer, and they are equipped with some rather great built in tech, as well. Here are some illustrations of some of that powerful technology:
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Maybe you want some music playing while you’re out boating. Just connect the boat’s radio to your hearing aids using Bluetooth.
- Rechargeability: You can recharge your hearing aid while sleeping and get full batteries all through the day. Basically, you can charge your hearing aids the same way you charge your cellphone. And when you travel with your hearing aids, it becomes very stress free.
- Automatic programming: Contemporary hearing aids can automatically adapt to new settings or times of day, depending on how you program them. This makes them simpler to use and more effective.
- Machine learning: Your hearing aid can utilize “machine learning”, which are sophisticated intelligent algorithms, to adapt to your audio landscape before you even knew it needed to. In loud settings or when eliminating particular sounds, this can be especially convenient.
- Noise reduction: You’ll want to have hearing aids that can sort through particular sounds (your ears once did this) so you can appreciate those crashing waves without having the traffic behind you amplified as well. Noise reduction features are normal in modern hearing aids so you will be able to dial in the sounds you want to hear.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can start to appreciate all kinds of features by connecting your hearing aid to your cellphone. Many phones will now enable you to download apps that help you control the settings on your hearing aids, so you can adjust for birdsong or grandchildren’s laughter depending on what you want to hear at that time.
You can ask us about how your pair of hearing aids are suited to your favorite adventures (for example, you can ask whether you can wear them while you’re going for a swim or hiking up a mountain, that kind of thing). Hearing aids and water-sports don’t always get along. But you will have a deeper overall summer experience with your hearing aids.
Also, asking us basic questions about your hearing aid model will be a practical plan. Will your hearing aids have a problem with hot weather, for instance? 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.
Maybe stay away from these sounds
Some summer sounds, unlike the dawn chorus, will be harmful to your hearing and you should be certain to steer clear of them. These are sounds that are, well, noisy! And everybody’s ears are at risk even if they don’t have pre-existing hearing loss. Some of those sounds include:
- Fireworks: Dogs have the right idea. Your hearing can definitely be damaged by fireworks. This includes both commercial and home launched fireworks. It’s best for your hearing to stay away from fireworks entirely.
- Boat engines: Be careful of how close you get and how long you spend near these engines because they are really loud. Try not to leave the motor idling when you’re fishing. Or, even better, pop in some earplugs for the duration of your boat trip.
- 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. This means you may want to be particular about which shows you see (rather than attending a festival every weekend).
This list isn’t exhaustive. Summer activities for individuals who have hearing loss may not include quite as many of those fireworks and loud noise situations.
But even with hearing loss you most likely won’t want to avoid every noisy summer event. So what can you do? Well, you can wear ear protection. For instance, before you go to a live show, put in a pair of earplugs so you can minimize most of the damage. You just need to make certain you’re using reliable ear protection.
Appreciate the sounds of summer
As the heat of summer becomes more oppressive, if you are dealing with hearing loss, the summer sounds may seem like they’re getting further away. Which means, a lot of the joy of the season could get lost.
Getting the most out of your summer then, might require making a pit stop with us. We will be able to determine whether your hearing is failing or not, and what kind of hearing aid will be best for your situation.
So if you want to appreciate the dawn chorus, that’s where you need to begin. Because birdsongs are only the beginning of those incredible summer sounds.
Get the most from your ears this summer and beyond. Call us for a hearing assessment and find out if hearing aids are the right option for you.
