Have you ever slept with the window in your bedroom open and awoke to the beautiful sound of birds singing just as the sun comes up? Most people probably don’t even know that the name for those bird-songs is the “dawn chorus”. Birds see the sunrise and, for some reason, decide it’s time to belt out their best melody. The songs of these birds, when they’re all sounding together, are a lovely symphony.
But you may not hear the “dawn chorus” at all if you have neglected hearing loss. And that’s unfortunate.
That’s particularly 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 could be the result of some undiagnosed (or diagnosed and dismissed) hearing loss. But you can start to enjoy all of those wonderful summer sounds again with the help of a device like a hearing aid.
Summer sounds
When you think about summer, you likely start off visualizing the sun in a blue sky. And, a really, really hot sun (whew). And then you start to visualize the summer soundtrack that goes along with this vision. Some sounds you may think about:
- Peepers and crickets chirping a symphony as the sun goes down.
- Bees buzzing about 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).
- The sound of birds chirping, particularly in the spring during, ahem, mating season. (Love songs are not just enjoyed by humans.)
- The sound of your grandkids laughing and playing.
You get the point. Summer is alive with wonderful sounds. These are the sounds that complete your summer, give it texture, and help establish that overall vibe. And these sounds by themselves bring great happiness.
It’s feasible that hearing loss may have crept up on you, especially if these or any other summer sounds sound to be different to you these days. Once you’ve detected that problem, the next step is to take action.
Your summer can be more enjoyable with hearing aids
Building connections is what hearing aids are really about for most. They’re about communication. They make it easier to converse with others, to hear what’s going on around you, and to enjoy the sounds that you hear. And at those summer barbecues, for instance, that’s even more relevant.
The latest models of hearing aids can help you bask in the sounds of summer, and they come with some rather amazing built in tech, as well. Here are some instances of some of that potent technology:
- Noise reduction: You’ll want to have hearing aids that can differentiate particular sounds (your ears once did this) so you can appreciate those crashing waves without having the traffic behind you amplified as well. Modern hearing aids have substantial noise reduction capabilities, so you can hear what you actually want to hear.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can connect your hearing aids to your cellphone and start enjoying all sorts of features. Many phones will now enable you to download apps that help you manage 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 moment.
- Rechargeability: You can recharge your hearing aid while sleeping and get full batteries throughout the day. Basically, you can charge your hearing aids in the same way you charge your cellphone. This also makes traveling with hearing aids much easier.
- 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. In loud settings or when filtering out particular sounds, this can be especially handy.
- Automatic programming: You can dial in your modern hearing aids to automatically adjust settings depending on the time of day or environment you find yourself in. This makes them simpler to use and more effective.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Boating on the lake and want to listen to some tracks? Well, your hearing aids can be connected to the boat’s stereo using Bluetooth.
We can help you discover how your specific hearing needs can be met by your hearing aids (you can ask us if you can bring your hearing aids into the water or on a mountain hike for instance). Hearing aids and water-sports don’t always play nice together. 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 an issue with hot weather, for example? Also, does humidity have any effect on my hearing aid and how can I safeguard 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 noisy sounds are a real hazard! And everyone’s ears are vulnerable even if they don’t have pre-existing hearing loss. Here are some of those sounds:
- Boat engines: These engines are loud, so use some caution about proximity and exposure time. Try not to leave the motor idling when you’re fishing. Or, an even better plan would be to use some earplugs.
- Fireworks: The dogs are on to something. Attending fireworks shows can undoubtedly damage your ears. Furthermore, being near home-launched fireworks can also be harmful to your ears (and limbs). It’s best for your hearing to keep away from fireworks entirely.
- Live music: Outdoor concerts are a fun part of summer, but they can be harmful to your ears. This means you might want to be selective about which shows you see (rather than going to a festival every weekend).
This list is not exhaustive. For people who are coping with hearing loss, summer might have a few less of these noisy activities.
That said, you might not be able to, or even want to, stay away from all loud noises over the summer. So what’s the strategy? Well, you can wear ear protection. For example, before you go to a concert, put in a set of earplugs so you can minimize a lot of the damage. You just need to make sure you’re using effective ear protection.
Have fun this summer and enjoy the sounds
If you have hearing loss, the sounds of summer might feel like they’re growing 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 get lost.
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 determine the state of your hearing and, if necessary, help decide what kind of hearing aids will be the best choice for you.
So if you want to appreciate the dawn chorus, that’s where you need to begin. And you’ll also be able to enjoy all of the other wonderful summer sounds.
Get your hearing tuned up this summer. Call us for a hearing assessment and find out if hearing aids are the right option for you.
