Have you ever slept with your bedroom window open and awoke to the wonderful sound of birds singing just as the sun comes up? Most individuals probably aren’t even aware that those bird songs are called the “dawn chorus”. For whatever reason, birds see the sun rising and choose to start belting out their favorite songs. Each species has its own kind of song, and together, they sound like a symphony of nature.
Of course, if you have neglected hearing loss, you may not hear the dawn chorus at all. And that’s unfortunate.
That’s especially true because it’s not just birdsong you might be missing out on. Summer is full of incredible sounds. And if you find yourself missing out on the sounds of summer, it could be the result of some undiagnosed (or diagnosed and ignored) hearing loss. But you can begin to enjoy all of those wonderful summer sounds again with the help of a device like a hearing aid.
The sounds of summer
You most likely think of a very hot sun in a clear blue sky when you think of summer. And then you start to imagine the summer soundtrack that comes with this vision. You may be thinking about:
- The sound of birds singing, especially in the spring during, ahem, mating season. (Love songs aren’t just appreciated by humans.)
- The buzzing of bees as they fly around pollinating flowers and helping the landscape bloom.
- The babbling of a brook or the crashing of waves.
- The symphony of frogs croaking at night, particularly in the early hours of the night.
- The sound of your grandkids playing and laughing.
You get the point. Summer is lively with wonderful sounds. These are the sounds that complete your summer, give it texture, and help create that overall vibe. And these sounds by themselves bring great happiness.
If these summer sounds (or any sounds of summer) seem foreign to you these days, it’s likely because a noticeable amount of hearing loss has successfully crept up on you. If you have recognized your hearing loss then you need to get something done about it.
Hearing aids can help you enjoy summer
For most, hearing aids are really about strengthening connections. They’re about communication. You’ll be more aware of what’s happening around you, better able to communicate with those around you, and appreciate the sounds in your world. And at those summer barbecues, for example, that’s even more important.
Contemporary hearing aids have some fantastic technology that will help you bask in those summer sounds. Here are some examples of some of that potent technology:
- Smartphone compatibility: You can sync your hearing aids to your smartphone and start enjoying all sorts of features. 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 grandkid’s laughter depending on what you want to hear at that moment.
- Automatic programming: You can program your modern hearing aids to automatically switch 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 enjoy some tunes? Just sync the boat’s radio to your hearing aids via Bluetooth.
- Machine learning: Your hearing aid can use “machine learning”, which are advanced intelligent algorithms, to adjust to your audio landscape before you even knew it needed to. This is particularly convenient when filtering sounds or in a noisy setting.
- Noise reduction: You’ll want to get hearing aids that can differentiate particular sounds (your ears used to do this) so you can appreciate those crashing waves without having the traffic behind you amplified too. Noise reduction features are common in modern hearing aids so you will be capable of dialing in the sounds you want to hear.
- Rechargeability: Your battery will remain charged all day after charging when you are sleeping at night. It’s much like charging your cellphone. This also makes traveling with hearing aids a lot easier.
We can help you discover how your specific hearing needs can be met by your hearing aids (for example, you can ask whether you can use them while you’re swimming or hiking up a mountain, that sort of thing). Hearing aids often don’t play well with water. But in general, your hearing aids will make your summer an all around richer experience.
You’ll also want to ask us some standard questions about your hearing aid models. Will your hearing aids have a problem with hot weather, for instance? Also, does humidity have any effect on my hearing aid and how can I protect it? The answer to both will depend on the model of hearing aid you have.
Some loud sounds you may want to avoid
Some summer sounds, unlike the dawn chorus, will be harmful to your ears and you should make sure to avoid them. These are sounds that are, well, loud! And everyone’s ears are vulnerable 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 duration. Try not to keep the motor idling when you’re fishing. Or, better yet, put in some earplugs for the entirety of your boat trip.
- Fireworks: Dogs have the right idea. Your hearing can definitely be damaged by fireworks. Likewise, being near home-launched fireworks can also be damaging to your hearing (and limbs). It’s best for your hearing to keep away from fireworks entirely.
- Live music: Outdoor concerts are a big part of summer, but they can be damaging to your ears. So you might want to use some caution and be picky about which shows you attend and use earplugs.
This list is not exhaustive. Summer fun for people with hearing loss may not include quite as many of those fireworks and loud noise conditions.
That said, you might not be able to, or even want to, avoid all loud noises during the summer. So what can you do? Well, you can use ear protection. For instance, before you go to a live show, put in a set of earplugs so you can reduce most 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 could feel like they’re growing further and further away (even as the heat of summer becomes more and more oppressive). Which means, a lot of the joy of the season could pass you by.
So you may need to pay us a visit if you want to be certain that you get the most from your summer. We will be able to identify whether your hearing is waning or not, and what kind of hearing aid will be best for your situation.
So start here if you’re ready to appreciate the dawn chorus. Because birdsongs are just the beginning of those incredible summer sounds.
Get your hearing tuned up this summer. Call us for a hearing exam and discover if hearing aids are the right option for you.
