Have you ever awoke after a night’s sleep and heard birds singing a delightful song through your open window? Turns out, 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. The songs of these birds, when they’re all singing together, are a beautiful symphony.
But you may not hear the “dawn chorus” at all if you have untreated hearing loss. And that’s sad.
There are a lot of amazing sounds during the summer besides birdsongs that you may be missing. And you may be missing those summer sounds because you have hearing loss that’s gone undiagnosed or simply neglected. 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 start incorporating details that make this blue sky feel more like summer, the sounds that fill in the day. Some sounds you may think about:
- The crashing of waves on the beach (or a babbling brook if you’re in a more inland area).
- Peepers and crickets chirping a symphony as the sun goes down.
- The sound of birds performing mating songs. (Love songs are not just enjoyed by humans.)
- The sound of your grandkids laughing and playing.
- The buzzing of bees as they fly around pollinating flowers and helping the landscape bloom.
You get the point. Summer is alive with wonderful sounds. These are the sounds that fill in your summer, give it quality, and help establish that overall vibe. Plus, there is so much pleasure in these everyday summertime sounds themselves.
If these sounds of summer (or any sounds of summer) seem different to you these days, it’s most likely because an apparent level of hearing loss has successfully 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
Building relationships is what hearing aids are really all about for most. Communication is key. You’ll be more mindful of what’s taking place around you, better able to communicate with those around you, and appreciate the sounds in your life. And that’s especially significant at those summer barbecues, for example.
The newest models of hearing aids can help you savor the sounds of summer, and they come with some really great built in tech, too. Here are some instances of some of that potent technology:
- Smartphone compatibility: You can start to enjoy all kinds of features by connecting your hearing aid to your smartphone. Depending on the specific hearing situation, you will be able to manage the settings on your hearing aids by utilizing an app you can download on most smartphones.
- Automatic programming: Contemporary hearing aids can automatically adjust to new settings or times of day, depending on how you program them. This feature makes them more reliable and easier to use.
- Noise reduction: You’ll want to have hearing aids that can differentiate particular sounds (your ears used to do this) so you can enjoy those crashing waves without having the traffic behind you amplified as well. Modern hearing aids have substantial noise reduction features, so you can hear what you really want to hear.
- Rechargeability: Your battery will remain charged all day after charging when you are sleeping at night. It’s much like charging your phone. And when you vacation with your hearing aids, it becomes really hassle free.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Boating on the lake and want to enjoy some music? Just sync the boat’s radio to your hearing aids via Bluetooth.
- Machine learning: Cutting-edge algorithms (called machine learning) can help your hearing aids adapt to what you need, even before you need it. In loud environments or when filtering out particular sounds, this can be especially handy.
You can ask us about how your pair of hearing aids are suitable for 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 play well with water. But in general, your hearing aids will make your summer an all around livelier experience.
You’ll also want to ask us some basic questions about your hearing aid models. For example, you should ask, can hot weather affect my hearing aids? Also, does humidity have any impact on my hearing aid and how can I protect it? Depending on the model of hearing aid, the answer to these questions will differ.
Perhaps stay away from 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 avoid them. These are sounds that are, well, loud! And everybody’s ears are at risk even if they don’t have pre-existing hearing loss. Here are some of those sounds:
- Live music: Outdoor concerts are a great part of summer, but they can be harmful to your ears. This means you may want to be particular about which shows you see (rather than attending a festival every weekend).
- Fireworks: The dogs are on to something. Your hearing can most certainly be damaged by fireworks. Likewise, being near home-launched fireworks can also be damaging to your ears (and limbs). It’s best for your hearing to stay away from fireworks entirely.
- Boat engines: These engines are loud, so use some caution about distance and exposure time. When you’re fishing, turn the engine off. Or, even better, pop in some earplugs for the entirety of your boat trip.
This list is not exhaustive. Summer fun for individuals who have hearing loss might not include quite as many of those fireworks and loud noise situations.
That said, you might not be capable of, or even want to, stay away from all loud noises over the summer. So what’s the solution? Wearing ear protection is the best option. For instance, before you go to a concert, put in a pair of earplugs so you can minimize most of the damage. You just need to make sure you’re using effective ear protection.
Have fun this summer and enjoy the sounds
If you are dealing with hearing loss, the sounds of summer may feel like they’re growing further and further away (even as the heat of summer gets more and more oppressive). And that means you could miss a lot of the season’s joy.
Getting the most from 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 be the best choice for you.
So begin here if you’re ready to appreciate the dawn chorus. Because birdsongs are only the beginning of those incredible summer sounds.
Get a hearing tune-up this summer. Call us for a hearing exam and discover if hearing aids are the right choice for you.