Have you ever slept with the window in your bedroom open and woken up to the lovely 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 sounding together, are a beautiful symphony.
Of course, if you have untreated hearing loss, you may not hear the dawn chorus at all. And that’s unfortunate.
There are lots of incredible sounds during the summer besides birdsongs that you may be missing. And if you find yourself missing out on the sounds of summer, it may be due to some undiagnosed (or diagnosed and ignored) hearing loss. The good news in these instances is that a device like a hearing aid could help you appreciate and enjoy your summer days more fully.
The sounds of summer
You probably think of a very hot sun in a clear blue sky when you think of summer. And then you begin to imagine the summer soundtrack that goes along with this vision. You might be thinking about:
- Peepers and crickets chirping a symphony as the sun goes down.
- The babbling of a stream or the crashing of waves.
- Something as simple as your grandkids laughing, possibly as they run around the yard or as you catch a baseball game together.
- The buzzing of bees as they fly around pollinating flowers and helping nature bloom.
- The sound of birds performing mating songs. (Humans aren’t the only species to use love songs.)
You get the idea. There are a bunch of sounds going on. The feeling and vibe of summer are significantly enhanced by these sounds. And these sounds by themselves bring great happiness.
It’s feasible that hearing loss might have snuck up on you, particularly if these or any other summer sounds sound to be different to you these days. If you have detected your hearing loss then you should get some help with it.
Your summer can be more enjoyable with hearing aids
Building connections is what hearing aids are really about for most. Communication is key. You’ll be more mindful of what’s taking place around you, better able to communicate with people around you, and enjoy the sounds in your life. And at those summer barbecues, for example, that’s even more important.
Modern hearing aids have some incredible technology that will help you bask in those summer sounds. Here are some illustrations of some of that potent technology:
- Machine learning: Your hearing aid can utilize “machine learning”, which are advanced intelligent algorithms, to adjust to your audio landscape before you even knew it needed to. This is especially convenient when filtering sounds or in a loud setting.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Boating on the lake and want to listen to some tracks? Well, your hearing aids can be connected to the boat’s stereo via Bluetooth.
- Automatic programming: Contemporary hearing aids can automatically adjust to new settings or times of day, depending on how they’re programmed. This makes them simpler to use and more effective.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can connect your hearing aids to your cellphone and begin enjoying all kinds of features. Depending on the specific hearing situation, you will be able to manage the settings on your hearing aids using an app you can download on most smartphones.
- Rechargeability: Your battery will stay charged throughout the day after charging while you sleep at night. It’s much like charging your phone. And when you vacation with your hearing aids, it becomes especially stress free.
- Noise reduction: You’ll want to have hearing aids that can differentiate specific sounds (your ears used to do this) so you can appreciate those crashing waves without having the traffic behind you amplified as well. Noise reduction features are common in modern hearing aids so you will be able to dial in the sounds you want to hear.
You can ask us about how your pair of hearing aids are suitable for your favorite adventures (you can ask us whether you can take your hearing aids into the water or on a mountain hike for example). Hearing aids often 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. Will your hearing aids have an issue with hot weather, for example? And you should also ask, how can I safeguard my hearing aids from moisture in the air? Depending on the model of hearing aid, the answer to these questions will differ.
Some loud sounds you may want to steer clear of
Some summer sounds, unlike the dawn chorus, will be harmful to your hearing and you should make sure to steer clear of them. These are sounds that are, well, loud! And they’re damaging to everyone’s ears, not just individuals with pre-existing hearing loss. Some of those sounds include:
- Fireworks: The dogs are on to something. Going to fireworks shows can definitely damage your ears. This goes for both commercial and home launched fireworks. It’s best for your hearing to stay away from fireworks completely.
- Boat engines: These engines are loud, so use some caution about proximity and duration. When you’re fishing, turn the engine off. Or, an even better idea would be to use some earplugs.
- Live music: It’s a lot of fun to attend a live music concert but the loud volume can be harmful to your hearing. This means you might want to be selective about which shows you see (rather than going to a festival every weekend).
This is only a partial list. Summer activities for people 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 stay away from every loud summer event. So what’s the strategy? Wearing ear protection is the best solution. Putting in a set of earplugs before you see any live music show can mitigate a lot of the damage, for example. But it’s important that the hearing protection you chooses is effective.
Have fun this summer and enjoy the sounds
As the heat of summer gets more oppressive, if you have hearing loss, the summer sounds may seem like they’re getting further away. Which means, a lot of the joy of the season could get lost.
Getting the most out of your summer then, may require making a pit stop with us. We can help identify the state of your hearing and, if necessary, help determine what type of hearing aids will best suit your needs.
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 awesome summer sounds.
Get a hearing tune-up this summer. Make an appointment today to find out which hearing aids are best for you!
