Have you ever slept with the window in your bedroom open and woken up to the beautiful sound of birds singing as the sun is coming up? So happens, there’s a name for all those birdsongs: the dawn chorus. For whatever reason, birds see the sun rising and decide to start belting out their favorite songs. The songs of these birds, when they’re all singing together, are a lovely symphony.
But you might not notice the “dawn chorus” at all if you have untreated hearing loss. And that’s sad.
That’s especially true because it isn’t just birdsong you might be missing out on. Summer is full of awesome sounds. And if you find yourself oblivious to the sounds of summer, it may be the result of some undiagnosed (or diagnosed and dismissed) hearing loss. 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 probably 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 begin incorporating highlights that make this blue sky feel more like summer, the sounds that fill out the day. You might be thinking about:
- The sound of your grandkids laughing and playing.
- Bees buzzing about helping nature bloom by pollinating flowers.
- The symphony of frogs croaking at night, particularly in the early hours of the evening.
- The babbling of a creek or the crashing of waves.
- The sound of birds singing, particularly in the spring during, ahem, mating season. (Humans aren’t the only species to utilize love songs.)
These are only a few examples. Summer is lively with amazing sounds. These are the sounds that fill in your summer, give it texture, and help create that overall vibe. And these sounds in and of themselves bring great happiness.
If these sounds of summer (or any sounds of summer) seem different to you these days, it’s likely because an apparent amount of hearing loss has successfully crept up on you. Once you’ve detected that issue, the next step is to do something about it.
Hearing aids can help you enjoy summer
Building relationships is what hearing aids are really about for most. They’re about communication. You’ll be more aware of what’s happening around you, better able to communicate with people around you, and appreciate the sounds in your life. And at those summer barbecues, for instance, that’s even more important.
The latest models of hearing aids can help you bask in the sounds of summer, and they are equipped with some really amazing built in tech, too. Here are some examples of some of that potent technology:
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Perhaps you want some music playing while you’re out on the boat. Well, your hearing aids can be synced to the boat’s stereo using Bluetooth.
- Rechargeability: You can recharge your hearing aid while sleeping and enjoy full batteries all through the day. Essentially, you can charge your hearing aids the same way you charge your cellphone. 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 roar 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 features, so you can hear what you really want to hear.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can sync your hearing aids to your smartphone and start making the most of all sorts of features. Many cell phones will now permit you to download apps that help you control 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 moment.
- Automatic programming: Modern hearing aids can automatically adapt to new environments or times of day, depending on how you program them. This makes them simpler to use and more reliable.
- Machine learning: Your hearing aid can utilize “machine learning”, which are advanced intelligent algorithms, to adapt to your audio landscape before you even knew it needed to. This is especially handy when filtering sounds or in a loud setting.
You can ask us about how your set of hearing aids are appropriate for your favorite activities (for example, you can ask whether you can use them while you’re going for a swim or hiking up a mountain, that type 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? And you should also ask, how do I protect my hearing aids from humidity? The answer to both will depend on the model of hearing aid you use.
Perhaps avoid these sounds
Some summer sounds, unlike the dawn chorus, will be harmful to your ears and you should make sure to steer clear of them. These noisy sounds are a real hazard! 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 a lot of fun to attend a live music concert but the loud volume can be damaging to your hearing. This means you may want to be selective about which shows you see (rather than attending a festival every weekend).
- Fireworks: The dogs are on to something. Going to fireworks shows can definitely damage your ears. Likewise, being near home-launched fireworks can also be damaging to your ears (and limbs). It’s best for your hearing to keep away from fireworks entirely.
- Boat engines: These engines are loud, so use some caution about distance and exposure time. When you’re fishing, shut the engine off. Or, even better, put in some earplugs for the duration of your boat trip.
This list is not exhaustive. For people who are dealing with hearing loss, summer may have a few less of these loud activities.
But even with hearing loss you probably won’t want to avoid every noisy summer activity. So what’s the strategy? Using ear protection is the best solution. For example, before you go to a live show, put in a set of earplugs so you can decrease a lot of the damage. But it’s essential that the hearing protection you chooses is effective.
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). And that means you might 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 will be able to identify whether your hearing is failing or not, and what kind of hearing aid will best suit your needs.
So if you want to enjoy the dawn chorus, that’s where you need to begin. And you’ll also be able to enjoy all of the other awesome 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.