Have you ever woken up after a night’s sleep and heard birds singing a beautiful 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 rising and choose to start belting out their favorite songs. Each type of bird has its own set of chirps and notes, and together, they sound like a symphony of nature.
Of course, if you have untreated 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 may be missing out on. Summer is full of awesome sounds. And you might be missing those summer sounds because you have hearing loss that’s gone undiagnosed or simply neglected. The good news in these situations is that a device like a hearing aid could help you appreciate and enjoy your summer days more fully.
The sounds of summer
You likely think of a very hot sun in a clear blue sky when you think of summer. But if you stay in your imagination a little longer, you’ll start adding highlights that make this blue sky feel more like summer, the sounds that fill in the day. Some sounds you might think about:
- Something as basic as your grandkids laughing, maybe as they run around the yard or as you watch a baseball game together.
- The sound of birds singing out mating songs. (Love songs are not just appreciated by humans.)
- The buzzing of bees as they fly around pollinating flowers and helping the landscape bloom.
- Peepers and crickets chirping a symphony as the sun goes down.
- The babbling of a brook or the crashing of waves.
These are just a few examples. Summer is alive with amazing sounds. The feeling and vibe of summer are greatly enhanced by these sounds. Plus, there is so much joy in these everyday summertime sounds themselves.
If these summer sounds (or any summer sounds) seem different to you these days, it’s likely because an apparent amount of hearing loss has effectively snuck 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
For most people, hearing aids are really about strengthening relationships. They’re about communication. You’ll be more mindful of what’s taking place around you, better able to communicate with those around you, and enjoy the sounds in your life. And at those summer barbecues, for instance, that’s even more relevant.
The newest models of hearing aids can help you savor the sounds of summer, and they are equipped with some rather amazing built in tech, as well. Here are some illustrations of some of that powerful technology:
- Machine learning: Fancy algorithms (called machine learning) can help your hearing aids adapt to what you need, even before you need it. In noisy environments or when filtering out specific sounds, this can be especially handy.
- Noise reduction: You’ll want to get hearing aids that can sort through specific sounds (your ears once did this) so you can appreciate those crashing waves without having the traffic behind you amplified too. Noise reduction features are normal in modern hearing aids so you will be capable of dialing in the sounds you want to hear.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Maybe you want some music playing while you’re out on the boat. Well, your hearing aids can be connected to the boat’s stereo using Bluetooth.
- Rechargeability: Your battery will stay charged throughout the day after charging when you are sleeping at night. It’s a lot like charging your phone. And when you vacation with your hearing aids, it becomes especially stress free.
- Automatic programming: Contemporary hearing aids can automatically adapt to new environments or times of day, depending on how you program them. This makes them easier to use and more reliable.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can start to enjoy all types of features by connecting your hearing aid to your cellphone. Many cell 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 grandchildren’s laughter depending on what you want to hear at that time.
You can ask us about how your pair of hearing aids are suited to your favorite activities (for example, you can ask whether you can use them while you’re swimming or hiking in the country, that sort of thing). Hearing aids and water-sports don’t always get along. But as a whole, your hearing aids will make your summer an all around livelier experience.
You’ll also want to ask us some standard questions about your hearing aid models. For example, you should ask, can hot weather affect my hearing aids? 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.
Some loud sounds you may want to steer clear of
As much as you enjoy the sound of the dawn chorus, there are some other summer sounds that could actually be harmful to your hearing, so you’ll probably want to steer clear of 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. Here are some of those sounds:
- Boat engines: Be careful of how close you get and how long you spend near these engines because they are very loud. When you’re fishing, shut the engine off. Or, better yet, put in some earplugs for the duration of your boat trip.
- Fireworks: The dogs are on to something. Attending fireworks shows can certainly damage your hearing. Likewise, being near home-launched fireworks can also be damaging to your ears (and limbs). Best to just avoid fireworks altogether.
- Live music: Outdoor concerts are a fun part of summer, but they can be damaging to your ears. So you might want to use some caution and be selective about which concerts you attend and use earplugs.
This list is not exhaustive. Summer activities for people with hearing loss might not include quite as many of those fireworks and loud noise situations.
That said, you may not be able to, or even want to, avoid all loud noises during the summer. So what’s the strategy? Well, you can use ear protection. Putting in a pair of earplugs before you go to any live music show can mitigate a lot of the damage, for instance. You just need to make sure you’re using reliable ear protection.
Have fun this summer and enjoy the sounds
If you have hearing loss, the sounds of summer may feel like they’re growing further and further away (even as the heat of summer gets more and more oppressive). Which means, a lot of the joy of the season could get lost.
Getting the most out of your summer then, might mean making a pit stop with us. We will be able to figure out whether your hearing is waning or not, and what kind of hearing aid will be best for your situation.
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 wonderful summer sounds.
Get the most from your ears this summer and beyond. Call us for a hearing test and discover if hearing aids are the right option for you.
