Have you ever slept with your bedroom window open and awoke to the beautiful sound of birds singing as the sun is coming up? So happens, there’s a name for all those birdsongs: the dawn chorus. Birds see the sunrise and, for some reason, decide it’s time to sing out their favorite melody. Each species has its own kind of song, and together, they sound like a symphony of nature.
But you may not notice the “dawn chorus” at all if you have untreated hearing loss. And that’s unfortunate.
There are a lot of incredible sounds during the summer besides birdsongs that you might be missing. And if you find yourself oblivious to the sounds of summer, it could be the result of some undiagnosed (or diagnosed and neglected) hearing loss. The good news in these situations is that a device like a hearing aid may help you appreciate and enjoy your summer days more fully.
Summer sounds
When you think about summer, you probably begin by visualizing the sun in a blue sky. And, a really, really hot sun (whew). And then you start to visualize the summer soundtrack that goes along with this vision. Some sounds you may think about:
- Something as simple as your grandkids laughing, maybe as they run around the yard or as you watch a baseball game together.
- Bees buzzing about helping nature bloom by pollinating flowers.
- The sound of birds singing, particularly in the spring during, ahem, mating season. (Love songs aren’t just enjoyed by humans.)
- The crashing of waves on the beach (or a babbling creek if you’re in a more inland area).
- Peepers and crickets chirping a symphony as the sun sets.
You get the idea. Summer is alive with amazing sounds. These are the sounds that fill in your summer, give it quality, and help establish that overall vibe. Plus, there is so much joy in these everyday summertime sounds themselves.
If these summer sounds (or any sounds of summer) seem different to you these days, it’s likely because a noticeable amount of hearing loss has effectively snuck up on you. Once you’ve detected that problem, the next step is to do something about it.
Your summer can be more enjoyable with hearing aids
For most individuals, hearing aids are really about creating relationships. They’re about communication. They make it easier to converse with others, to hear what’s happening around you, and to enjoy the sounds that you hear. And that’s particularly significant at those summer barbecues, for instance.
Contemporary hearing aids have some incredible technology that will help you bask in those summer sounds. For instance, most modern hearing aids offer:
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Out on the boat and want to listen to some music? Just connect the boat’s radio to your hearing aids using Bluetooth.
- Automatic programming: Modern hearing aids can automatically adapt to new environments or times of day, depending on how they’re programmed. This function makes them more effective and easier to use.
- Noise reduction: If you want to hear the crashing of the waves, but not the roar 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 significant noise reduction capabilities, so you can hear what you really want to hear.
- Rechargeability: Your battery will stay charged all day after charging when you are sleeping at night. Basically, you can charge your hearing aids the same way you charge your cellphone. And when you vacation with your hearing aids, it becomes really stress free.
- Machine learning: Your hearing aid can use “machine learning”, which are sophisticated intelligent algorithms, to adjust to your audio landscape before you even knew it needed to. In noisy settings or when eliminating particular sounds, this can be especially convenient.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can connect your hearing aids to your cellphone and begin making the most of all kinds of features. Many cell phones will now allow 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 time.
You can ask us about how your set of hearing aids are suitable for your favorite adventures (for instance, you can ask whether you can wear them while you’re going for a swim or hiking in the country, that type of thing). Hearing aids frequently don’t get along with water. But as a whole, your hearing aids will make your summer an all around richer experience.
Also, asking us basic questions about your hearing aid model will be a practical plan. For instance, you should ask, can hot weather affect my hearing aids? And you should also ask, how can I protect my hearing aids from moisture in the air? The answer to both will depend on the model of hearing aid you have.
Perhaps stay away from these sounds
Some summer sounds, unlike the dawn chorus, will be harmful to your hearing and you should be certain to steer clear of them. These are sounds that are, well, noisy! And they’re damaging to everyone’s ears, not just individuals 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 near these engines because they’re very loud. Try not to keep the motor running when you’re fishing. Or, better yet, put in some earplugs for the duration of your boat trip.
- Live music: It’s a lot of fun to go and see a live music concert but the loud volume 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: Dogs have the right idea. Attending fireworks shows can undoubtedly damage your hearing. Similarly, being near home-launched fireworks can also be harmful to your ears (and limbs). It’s best for your hearing to stay away from fireworks entirely.
This is only a partial list. Summer fun for individuals 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 over the summer. So what’s the strategy? Well, you can wear ear protection. Popping in a set of earplugs before you see any live music show can minimize a lot of the damage, for instance. You just need to make certain you’re using effective ear protection.
Have fun this summer and enjoy the sounds
If you have hearing loss, the sounds of summer might feel like they’re getting further and further away (even as the heat of summer becomes more and more oppressive). And that means you could miss a lot of the season’s joy.
Getting the most out of your summer then, might require making a pit stop with us. We can help determine the state of your hearing and, if necessary, help decide what type of hearing loss will be the best choice for you.
So begin here if you’re ready to enjoy the dawn chorus. And you’ll also be able to enjoy all of the other wonderful summer sounds.
Get a hearing tune-up this summer. Make an appointment today to find out which hearing aids are best for you!