Have you ever slept with the window in your bedroom open and awoke to the wonderful sound of birds singing as the sun is coming up? Most people probably aren’t even aware that the name for those bird-songs is the “dawn chorus”. For whatever reason, birds see the sun rising and decide to start belting out their favorite songs. The songs of these birds, when they’re all singing together, are a beautiful symphony.
Of course, if you have neglected hearing loss, you might not hear the dawn chorus at all. And that’s unfortunate.
There are lots of amazing sounds during the summer besides birdsongs that you may be missing. 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 amazing summer sounds again with the help of a device like a hearing aid.
Summer sounds
When you think about summer, you probably begin by imagining the sun in a blue sky. And, a very, very hot sun (whew). And then you begin to visualize the summer soundtrack that goes along with this vision. Some sounds you might think about:
- The sound of your grandchildren laughing and playing.
- The crashing of waves on the beach (or a babbling creek if you’re in a more landlocked area).
- The sound of birds singing, especially in the spring during, ahem, mating season. (Love songs aren’t just enjoyed by humans.)
- The buzzing of bees as they fly around pollinating flowers and helping the landscape bloom.
- The sound of frogs croaking at night, especially in the early hours of the night.
These are just a few examples. Summer is alive with wonderful sounds. The feeling and vibe of summer are greatly enhanced by these sounds. And these sounds by themselves bring great joy.
If these sounds of summer (or any summer sounds) seem different to you these days, it’s likely because a noticeable level of hearing loss has effectively snuck up on you. Once you’ve noticed that problem, the next step is to do something about it.
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 appreciate the sounds that you hear. And that’s especially significant at those summer barbecues, for instance.
The newest models of hearing aids can help you savor the sounds of summer, and they come with some rather amazing built in tech, as well. For instance, most modern hearing aids offer:
- Rechargeability: Your battery will stay charged throughout the day after charging when you are sleeping at night. Essentially, you can charge your hearing aids the same way you charge your cellphone. And when you vacation with your hearing aids, it becomes very stress free.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can connect your hearing aids to your cellphone and begin making the most of 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 grandkid’s laughter depending on what you want to hear at that time.
- Automatic programming: You can program your modern hearing aids to automatically change settings depending on the time of day or environment you find yourself in. This makes them simpler to use and more effective.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Maybe you want some music playing while you’re out boating. Well, your hearing aids can be connected 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 out these sounds (just like your ears used to do). Noise reduction features are common in modern hearing aids so you will be capable of dialing in the sounds you want to hear.
- Machine learning: Your hearing aid can use “machine learning”, which are sophisticated intelligent algorithms, to adapt to your audio landscape before you even knew it needed to. This is particularly handy when filtering sounds or in a noisy setting.
You can ask us about how your pair of hearing aids are suited to your favorite activities (you can ask us whether you can take 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 richer experience.
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 do I safeguard my hearing aids from moisture in the air? The answer to both questions will depend on the model of hearing aid you have.
Perhaps avoid these sounds
As much as you love the sound of the dawn chorus, there are a few other summer sounds that could actually be damaging to your hearing, so you’ll probably want to steer clear of them. These loud sounds are a real hazard! And they’re damaging to everyone’s ears, not just people who have pre-existing hearing loss. Some of those sounds include:
- Boat engines: Be cautious of how close you get and how long you spend around these engines because they are very loud. When you’re fishing, turn the engine off. Or, even better, put in some earplugs for the entirety of your boat trip.
- Live music: It’s great fun to attend a live music concert but the loud volume 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).
- Fireworks: The dogs are on to something. Going to fireworks shows can certainly harm your hearing. Likewise, being close to home-launched fireworks can also be damaging to your ears (and limbs). Best to simply avoid fireworks altogether.
This is only a partial list. Summer activities for individuals with hearing loss may not include quite as many of those fireworks and loud noise conditions.
But even with hearing loss you most likely won’t want to avoid every noisy summer event. So what’s the solution? Using ear protection is the best solution. For example, before you go to a live show, put in a set of earplugs so you can decrease most of the damage. But it’s important that the hearing protection you chooses is effective.
Appreciate the sounds of summer
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). And that means you might miss a lot of the season’s joy.
Getting the most from your summer then, may mean making a pit stop with us. We will be able to identify whether your hearing is failing or not, and what kind of hearing aid will best suit your needs.
So begin here if you’re ready to enjoy the dawn chorus. Because birdsongs are only the beginning of those amazing 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!