Have you ever awoke after a night’s sleep and heard birds singing a wonderful song through your open window? 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 singing their favorite songs. The songs of these birds, when they’re all sounding together, are a beautiful symphony.
But you may not hear the “dawn chorus” at all if you have untreated hearing loss. Which is a shame.
That’s particularly true because it isn’t 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 ignored. The good news in these cases is that a device like a hearing aid may help you appreciate and more fully enjoy your summer.
The sounds of summer
When you think about summer, you likely start off visualizing the sun in a blue sky. And, a really, really hot sun (whew). And then you begin to imagine the summer soundtrack that goes along with this vision. Some sounds you might think about:
- The sound of frogs croaking at night, particularly in the early hours of the night.
- The sound of birds singing out mating songs. (Humans aren’t the only species to employ love songs.)
- The sound of your grandkids playing and laughing.
- The crashing of waves on the beach (or a babbling creek if you’re in a more landlocked area).
- Bees buzzing around helping nature bloom by pollinating flowers.
These are only a few examples. There are lots of sounds going on. The feeling and vibe of summer are considerably enhanced by these sounds. Plus, there is so much happiness in these simple sounds themselves.
If these summer sounds (or any sounds of summer) seem different to you these days, it’s probably because an apparent amount of hearing loss has effectively crept up on you. If you have detected your hearing loss then you need to get something done about it.
Hearing aids can help you enjoy summer
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 at those summer barbecues, for instance, that’s even more relevant.
Contemporary hearing aids have some amazing technology that will help you bask in those summer sounds. Here are some illustrations of some of that powerful technology:
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Boating on the lake and want to listen to some tunes? Just connect the boat’s radio to your hearing aids using Bluetooth.
- Noise reduction: If you want to hear the crashing of the 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 once did). Noise reduction features are common in modern hearing aids so you will be able to dial in the sounds you want to hear.
- 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. This is particularly convenient when filtering sounds or in a noisy setting.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can sync your hearing aids to your smartphone and start making the most of all kinds of features. Many cell phones will now enable you to download apps that help you manage the settings on your hearing aids, so you can fine-tune for birdsong or grandchildren’s laughter depending on what you want to hear at that moment.
- Automatic programming: Contemporary hearing aids can automatically adapt to new settings or times of day, depending on how they’re programmed. This makes them easier to use and more effective.
- Rechargeability: You can recharge your hearing aid while you sleep and get full batteries all through the day. Basically, you can charge your hearing aids in the same way you charge your cellphone. This also makes vacationing with hearing aids much easier.
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 example). Hearing aids usually don’t get along with water. But as a whole, your hearing aids will make your summer an all around livelier experience.
Also, asking us basic questions about your hearing aid model will be a good idea. For instance, you should ask, can hot weather impact my hearing aids? And you should also ask, how do I protect my hearing aids from humidity? Depending on the model of hearing aid, the answer to these questions will vary.
Some loud sounds you may want to avoid
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 stay away from them. These noisy sounds are a real hazard! And they’re damaging to everyone’s ears, not just those with pre-existing hearing loss. Some of those sounds include:
- Live music: It’s a lot of fun to attend a live music concert but the loud volume can be damaging to your hearing. This means you may want to be particular about which shows you see (rather than going to a festival every weekend).
- Fireworks: Dogs have the right idea. Attending fireworks shows can certainly damage your hearing. This includes both commercial and home launched fireworks. It’s best for your hearing to keep away from fireworks entirely.
- Boat engines: These engines are loud, so use some caution about distance and duration. When you’re fishing, shut the engine off. Or, better yet, put in some earplugs for the entirety of your boat trip.
This list isn’t exhaustive. Summer activities for people with 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 noisy summer activity. So what can you do? Well, you can use ear protection. Popping in a set of earplugs before you see any live music show can minimize much of the damage, for instance. But it’s important that the hearing protection you chooses is reliable.
Have fun this summer and enjoy the sounds
As the heat of summer becomes more oppressive, if you are dealing with hearing loss, the summer sounds may feel like they’re getting further away. And that means you could miss a lot of the season’s joy.
So you may need to pay us a visit if you want to make sure you get the most from your summer. We will be able to identify whether your hearing is failing or not, and what kind of hearing aid will be best for your situation.
So begin here if you’re ready to enjoy the dawn chorus. Because birdsongs are only the beginning of those awesome summer sounds.
Get your hearing tuned up this summer. Call us for a hearing test and discover if hearing aids are the right choice for you.
