Have you ever slept with the window in your bedroom open and awoke to the lovely sound of birds singing as the sun is coming up? Most people probably don’t even know that the name for those bird-songs is the “dawn chorus”. Birds see the sunrise and, for some reason, decide it’s time to belt out their best melody. Each type of bird has its own kind of song, and together, they sound like a symphony of nature.
Of course, if you have untreated hearing loss, you may not hear the dawn chorus at all. Which is a shame.
That’s especially true because it’s not just birdsong you may be missing out on. Summer is full of amazing sounds. And if you find yourself missing out on the sounds of summer, it may be due to some undiagnosed (or diagnosed and neglected) hearing loss. The good news in these situations is that a device like a hearing aid could help you appreciate and enjoy your summer days more fully.
Summer sounds
When you think about summer, you most likely begin by visualizing the sun in a blue sky. And, a very, very hot sun (whew). But if you stick with your imagination a little longer, you’ll begin incorporating highlights that make this blue sky seem more like summer, the sounds that fill in the day. Some sounds you might think about:
- The babbling of a brook or the crashing of waves.
- Something as simple as your grandchildren laughing, maybe as they run around the yard or as you catch a baseball game together.
- The sound of birds singing out mating songs. (Humans aren’t the only species to use love songs.)
- The sound of frogs croaking at night, especially in the early hours of the evening.
- The buzzing of bees as they fly around pollinating flowers and helping nature bloom.
You get the point. There are a bunch of sounds happening. 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 foreign to you these days, it’s probably because an apparent level of hearing loss has successfully snuck up on you. If you have recognized your hearing loss then you need to get something done about it.
Your summer can be more enjoyable with hearing aids
For most, hearing aids are really about strengthening connections. Communication is key. They make it easier to talk to 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 example.
Modern hearing aids have some amazing technology that will help you savor those summer sounds. For example, most modern hearing aids provide:
- Automatic programming: You can program your modern hearing aids to automatically switch settings depending on the time of day or setting you find yourself in. This makes them easier to use and more reliable.
- Machine learning: Cutting-edge algorithms (called machine learning) can help your hearing aids adjust to what you need, even before you need it. In loud settings or when eliminating particular sounds, this can be especially handy.
- Rechargeability: You can recharge your hearing aid while sleeping and enjoy full batteries throughout the day. Basically, you can charge your hearing aids in the same way you charge your cellphone. And when you vacation with your hearing aids, it becomes very hassle free.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can sync your hearing aids to your cellphone and start enjoying 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 grandchildren’s laughter depending on what you want to hear at that time.
- 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). Modern hearing aids have substantial noise reduction capabilities, so you can hear what you really want to hear.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Out on the boat and want to listen to some tracks? Well, your hearing aids can be connected to the boat’s stereo via Bluetooth.
You can ask us about how your set of hearing aids are suitable for your favorite activities (for instance, you can ask whether you can use them while you’re going for a swim or hiking up a mountain, that type of thing). Hearing aids and water-sports don’t always get along. But you will have a richer overall summer experience with your hearing aids.
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 effect on my hearing aid and how can I protect it? The answer to both will depend on the model of hearing aid you use.
Perhaps stay away from these sounds
As much as you love the sound of the dawn chorus, there are some 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 with pre-existing hearing loss. Here are a few of those sounds:
- Fireworks: Dogs have the right idea. Your hearing can most certainly be damaged by fireworks. 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. Try not to leave the motor idling when you’re fishing. Or, even better, pop in some earplugs for the entirety of your boat trip.
- Live music: It’s great fun to go and see 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).
This is only a partial list. For individuals who are coping with hearing loss, summer may have a few less of these loud activities.
Having said that, you may not be capable of, or even want to, avoid all loud noises over the summer. So what can you do? Well, you can wear ear protection. For example, before you go to a concert, put in a set of earplugs so you can decrease a lot of the damage. You just need to make sure you’re using effective ear protection.
Have fun this summer and enjoy the sounds
As the heat of summer becomes more oppressive, if you have hearing loss, the summer sounds might seem like they’re getting further away. And that means you could miss a lot of the season’s joy.
So you may need to come in and see us if you want to make sure you get the most out of your summer. We will be able to figure out whether your hearing is failing or not, and what kind of hearing aid will be best for your situation.
So if you want to appreciate the dawn chorus, that’s where you need to begin. Because birdsongs are only the beginning of those incredible summer sounds.
Get your hearing tuned up this summer. Call us for a hearing test and find out if hearing aids are the right option for you.