Have you ever awoke after a night’s sleep and heard birds singing a pleasant song through your open window? So happens, there’s a name for all those birdsongs: the dawn chorus. For whatever reason, birds see the sun coming up and choose to start singing their favorite songs. The songs of these birds, when they’re all singing together, are a lovely symphony.
Of course, if you have neglected hearing loss, you may not hear the dawn chorus at all. Which is a pity.
That’s especially true because it’s not just birdsong you might be missing out on. Summer is full of awesome sounds. And if you find yourself missing out on the sounds of summer, it may be due to some undiagnosed (or diagnosed and dismissed) hearing loss. But you can begin to enjoy all of those amazing summer sounds again with the help of a device like a hearing aid.
Summer sounds
When you think about summer, you most likely start off imagining the sun in a blue sky. And, a very, very hot sun (whew). But if you stay in your imagination a bit longer, you’ll start adding details that make this blue sky feel more like summer, the sounds that fill in the day. You may be thinking about:
- The crashing of waves on the beach (or a babbling brook if you’re in a more landlocked area).
- The sound of your grandchildren laughing and playing.
- The sound of birds singing, particularly in the spring during, ahem, mating season. (Humans aren’t the only species to employ love songs.)
- The buzzing of bees as they fly around pollinating flowers and helping nature bloom.
- Peepers and crickets chirping a symphony as the sun sets.
These are only a few examples. Summer is lively with amazing sounds. These are the sounds that fill in your summer, give it quality, and help create that overall vibe. 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 snuck up on you. 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 connections. They’re about communication. You’ll be more mindful of what’s happening around you, better able to communicate with those around you, and enjoy the sounds in your life. And that’s particularly significant at those summer barbecues, for instance.
Contemporary hearing aids have some amazing technology that will help you savor those summer sounds. For instance, most modern hearing aids provide:
- 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 once did). Modern hearing aids have considerable noise reduction features, so you can hear what you really want to hear.
- Automatic programming: Contemporary hearing aids can automatically adapt to new environments or times of day, depending on how they’re programmed. This feature makes them more effective and easier to use.
- Machine learning: Fancy algorithms (called machine learning) can help your hearing aids adjust to what you need, even before you know you need it. In loud settings or when eliminating particular sounds, this can be especially handy.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Boating on the lake and want to listen to some tracks? Just connect the boat’s radio to your hearing aids via Bluetooth.
- Rechargeability: You can recharge your hearing aid while sleeping and get full batteries throughout the day. It’s much like charging your phone. This also makes traveling with hearing aids a lot easier.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can start to enjoy all types of features by connecting your hearing aid to your cellphone. Depending on the specific hearing situation, you will be able to control the settings on your hearing aids by utilizing an app you can download on most cell phones.
You can ask us about how your set of hearing aids are suited to your favorite activities (you can ask us whether you can take your hearing aids into the water or on a mountain hike for example). Hearing aids and water-sports don’t always get along. But in general, your hearing aids will make your summer an all around livelier experience.
Also, asking us basic questions about your hearing aid model will be a good plan. Will your hearing aids have a problem with hot weather, for example? And you should also ask, how can I safeguard my hearing aids from humidity? Depending on the model of hearing aid, the answer to these questions will differ.
Maybe avoid these sounds
Some summer sounds, unlike the dawn chorus, will be harmful to your hearing and you should make sure to avoid them. These loud sounds are a real hazard! And everyone’s ears are at risk even if they don’t have pre-existing hearing loss. Some of those sounds include:
- Boat engines: These engines are loud, so exercise some caution about distance and exposure time. Try not to leave the motor running when you’re fishing. Or, an even better idea would be to use some earplugs.
- Live music: It’s great fun to go and see a live music concert but the loud volume can be damaging to your ears. This means you may want to be particular about which shows you see (rather than going to a festival every weekend).
- Fireworks: The dogs are on to something. Your hearing can definitely be damaged by fireworks. This goes for both commercial and home launched fireworks. It’s best for your hearing to keep away from fireworks entirely.
This list isn’t exhaustive. For individuals who are dealing with hearing loss, summer may have a few less of these noisy events.
But even with hearing loss you probably won’t want to stay away from every loud summer activity. So what’s the strategy? Well, you can wear ear protection. 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 important that the hearing protection you chooses is effective.
Have fun this summer and enjoy the sounds
If you have hearing loss, the sounds of summer may feel like they’re getting further and further away (even as the heat of summer gets more and more oppressive). Which means, much of the joy of the season could pass you by.
Getting the most from your summer then, may require making a pit stop with us. We can help determine the state of your hearing and, if necessary, help determine what kind of hearing aids will best suit your needs.
So if you want to appreciate the dawn chorus, that’s where you need to start. Because birdsongs are just the beginning of those amazing summer sounds.
Get a hearing tune-up this summer. Call us for a hearing test and discover if hearing aids are the right choice for you.
