Have you ever slept with your bedroom window open and awoke to the beautiful sound of birds singing as the sun is coming up? Turns out, there’s a term for all those birdsongs: 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 beautiful symphony.
But you might not hear the “dawn chorus” at all if you have neglected hearing loss. Which is a shame.
There are a lot of incredible sounds during the summer besides birdsongs that you might be missing. And you might be missing those summer sounds because you have hearing loss that’s gone undiagnosed or simply ignored. The good news in these situations 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 probably start off imagining the sun in a blue sky. And, a very, very hot sun (whew). And then you start to imagine the summer soundtrack that comes with this vision. Some sounds you might think about:
- The babbling of a brook or the crashing of waves.
- The sound of birds singing out mating songs. (Humans aren’t the only species to use love songs.)
- The buzzing of bees as they fly around pollinating flowers and helping the landscape bloom.
- Something as simple as your grandkids laughing, perhaps as they run around the yard or as you watch a baseball game with each other.
- Peepers and crickets chirping a symphony as the sun sets.
You get the point. Summer is alive with amazing sounds. The experience and vibe of summer are considerably enhanced by these sounds. Plus, there is so much happiness in these everyday summertime sounds themselves.
If these sounds of summer (or any sounds of summer) seem different to you these days, it’s most likely because an apparent amount of hearing loss has effectively crept up on you. Once you’ve noticed 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 all 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 cook-outs, for instance, that’s even more relevant.
Modern hearing aids have some fantastic technology that will help you savor those summer sounds. For example, most contemporary hearing aids provide:
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Out on the boat and want to enjoy some tunes? Just connect the boat’s radio to your hearing aids via Bluetooth.
- Machine learning: Fancy algorithms (called machine learning) can help your hearing aids adjust to what you need, even before you know you need it. This is particularly handy when filtering sounds or in a noisy setting.
- Noise reduction: You’ll want to have hearing aids that can sort through particular sounds (your ears used to do this) so you can appreciate those crashing waves without having the traffic behind you amplified too. Modern hearing aids have considerable noise reduction capabilities, so you can hear what you actually want to hear.
- Automatic programming: You can dial in your modern hearing aids to automatically switch settings depending on the time of day or setting you find yourself in. This function makes them more reliable and simpler to use.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can begin to appreciate all kinds of features by syncing your hearing aid to your cellphone. Depending on the specific hearing situation, you will be able to manage the settings on your hearing aids using an app you can download on most cell phones.
- 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 really hassle free.
You can ask us about how your pair of hearing aids are suited to your favorite activities (you can ask us whether you can bring your hearing aids into the water or on a mountain hike for instance). Hearing aids usually don’t get along with water. But you will have a deeper overall summer experience with your hearing aids.
You’ll also want to ask us some basic questions about your hearing aid models. Will your hearing aids have a problem with hot weather, for instance? And you should also ask, how can I protect my hearing aids from moisture in the air? Depending on the model of hearing aid, the answer to these questions will differ.
Some loud sounds you may want to steer clear of
Some summer sounds, unlike the dawn chorus, will be harmful to your hearing and you should be certain to avoid them. These are sounds that are, well, loud! And everybody’s ears are vulnerable even if they don’t have pre-existing hearing loss. Some of those sounds include:
- Live music: Outdoor concerts are a great part of summer, but they can be damaging to your ears. This means you may want to be particular about which shows you see (rather than attending a festival every weekend).
- Fireworks: Dogs have the right idea. Your hearing can definitely be harmed by fireworks. Similarly, being near home-launched fireworks can also be damaging to your hearing (and limbs). Best to just stay away from fireworks altogether.
- Boat engines: Be careful of how close you get and how long you spend around these engines because they are very loud. Try not to keep the motor idling when you’re fishing. Or, an even better idea would be to use some earplugs.
This list is not exhaustive. For individuals who are coping with hearing loss, summer might have a few less of these loud activities.
But even with hearing loss you most likely won’t want to stay away from every noisy summer event. So what can you do? Well, you can wear ear protection. For instance, before you go to a concert, put in a pair of earplugs so you can reduce most of the damage. You just need to make certain you’re using reliable ear protection.
Have fun this summer and enjoy the sounds
As the heat of summer gets more oppressive, if you have hearing loss, the summer sounds might feel like they’re getting further away. Which means, much of the joy of the season could pass you by.
So you might need to come in and see us if you want to make sure you get the most from your summer. We will be able to determine whether your hearing is failing or not, and what type 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. And you’ll also be able to enjoy all of the other awesome summer sounds.
Get the most out of your ears this summer and beyond. Make an appointment today to find out which hearing aids are best for you!