Have you ever woken up after a night’s sleep and heard birds singing a wonderful song through your open window? Turns out, there’s a name for all those birdsongs: the dawn chorus. For whatever reason, birds see the sun rising and choose to start singing their favorite songs. The songs of these birds, when they’re all singing together, are a lovely symphony.
But you might not notice the “dawn chorus” at all if you have neglected hearing loss. And that’s unfortunate.
That’s especially true because it isn’t just birdsong you might be missing out on. Summer is full of amazing sounds. And you might be missing those summer sounds because you have hearing loss that’s gone undiagnosed or simply dismissed. But you can start to enjoy all of those wonderful summer sounds again with the help of a device like a hearing aid.
The sounds of summer
When you think about summer, you most likely begin by imagining the sun in a blue sky. And, a really, really hot sun (whew). But if you stick with your imagination a little longer, you’ll begin incorporating details that make this blue sky seem more like summer, the sounds that fill in the day. You may be thinking about:
- The sound of your grandchildren laughing and playing.
- 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 crashing of waves on the beach (or a babbling brook if you’re in a more inland area).
- The sound of birds performing mating songs. (Humans aren’t the only species to utilize love songs.)
You get the point. Summer is lively with wonderful sounds. These are the sounds that complete your summer, give it quality, and help create that overall vibe. And these sounds in and of themselves bring great happiness.
If these sounds of summer (or any summer sounds) seem foreign to you these days, it’s most likely because a noticeable amount of hearing loss has successfully crept up on you. If you have recognized your hearing loss then you should 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 mindful of what’s happening around you, better able to communicate with those around you, and enjoy the sounds in your world. And at those summer barbecues, for instance, that’s even more important.
Contemporary hearing aids have some fantastic technology that will help you savor those summer sounds. For instance, most contemporary hearing aids provide:
- Smartphone compatibility: You can connect your hearing aids to your smartphone and begin making the most of all sorts of features. Depending on the particular hearing situation, you will be able to manage the settings on your hearing aids using an app you can download on most smartphones.
- Machine learning: Cutting-edge algorithms (called machine learning) can help your hearing aids adjust to what you need, even before you know you need it. In loud environments or when eliminating particular sounds, this can be especially handy.
- Rechargeability: You can recharge your hearing aid while you sleep and get full batteries throughout the day. Essentially, you can charge your hearing aids the same way you charge your cellphone. And when you vacation with your hearing aids, it becomes especially stress free.
- Automatic programming: Modern hearing aids can automatically adjust to new environments or times of day, depending on how you program them. This makes them simpler to use and more effective.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Perhaps you want some tunes while you’re out boating. Well, your hearing aids can be synced to the boat’s stereo using Bluetooth.
- 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 (just like your ears used to do). Modern hearing aids have considerable noise reduction features, so you can hear what you actually want to hear.
You can ask us about how your pair of hearing aids are suited to your favorite activities (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 in general, 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. Will your hearing aids have a problem with hot weather, for instance? Also, does humidity have any impact on my hearing aid and how can I protect it? The answer to both questions will depend on the model of hearing aid you use.
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 damaging to your hearing, so you’ll probably want to stay away from them. These noisy sounds are a real hazard! And everybody’s ears are vulnerable even if they don’t have pre-existing hearing loss. Here are some of those sounds:
- Live music: Outdoor concerts are a big part of summer, but they can be damaging to your hearing. This means you may want to be selective about which shows you see (rather than going to a festival every weekend).
- Fireworks: The dogs are on to something. Your hearing can most certainly be damaged by fireworks. This includes both commercial and home launched fireworks. It’s best for your hearing to keep away from fireworks completely.
- Boat engines: Be cautious of how close you get and how long you spend near these engines because they’re very loud. Try not to keep the motor idling when you’re fishing. Or, an even better idea would be to put in some earplugs.
This list is not exhaustive. Summer activities for individuals who have hearing loss might not include quite as many of those fireworks and loud noise situations.
But even with hearing loss you probably won’t want to avoid every loud summer event. So what’s the solution? Well, you can use ear protection. Putting in a set of earplugs before you see any live music show can mitigate much of the damage, for example. But it’s essential that the hearing protection you chooses is reliable.
Have fun this summer and enjoy the sounds
If you are dealing with 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, 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 out of your summer. We can help determine the state of your hearing and, if necessary, help decide what type of hearing aids will best suit your needs.
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. Schedule an appointment today to find out which hearing aids are right for you!