Have you ever awoke after a night’s sleep and heard birds singing a beautiful song through your open window? 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 belt out their favorite melody. Each species has its own set of chirps and notes, 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. And that’s sad.
There are lots of incredible sounds during the summer besides birdsongs that you may be missing. And if you find yourself oblivious to the sounds of summer, it might be due to some undiagnosed (or diagnosed and dismissed) hearing loss. But you can start to enjoy all of those wonderful summer sounds again with the help of a device like a hearing aid.
Summer sounds
When you think about summer, you likely begin by imagining the sun in a blue sky. And, a very, very hot sun (whew). And then you start to imagine the summer soundtrack that comes with this vision. You may be thinking about:
- Bees buzzing about helping nature bloom by pollinating flowers.
- The babbling of a creek or the crashing of waves.
- The sound of birds chirping, especially in the spring during, ahem, mating season. (Love songs are not just appreciated by humans.)
- Something as basic as your grandkids laughing, possibly as they run around the yard or as you watch a baseball game together.
- Peepers and crickets chirping a symphony as the sun goes down.
You get the point. There are lots of sounds going on. These are the sounds that complete your summer, give it quality, and help establish that overall vibe. Plus, there is so much happiness in these simple sounds themselves.
If these sounds of summer (or any summer sounds) seem foreign to you these days, it’s likely because an apparent level of hearing loss has successfully crept up on you. Once you’ve noticed that problem, the next step is to do something about it.
Your summer can be more enjoyable with hearing aids
Building connections is what hearing aids are really all about for most. Communication is key. You’ll be more aware of what’s taking place around you, better able to communicate with people around you, and appreciate the sounds in your life. And that’s particularly significant at those summer barbecues, for instance.
The newest models of hearing aids can help you savor the sounds of summer, and they come with some pretty great built in tech, as well. For example, most contemporary hearing aids offer:
- Rechargeability: You can recharge your hearing aid while you sleep and enjoy full batteries throughout the day. Essentially, you can charge your hearing aids the same way you charge your cellphone. This also makes traveling with hearing aids a lot easier.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can start to enjoy all kinds of features by connecting your hearing aid to your smartphone. Many cell phones will now permit you to download apps that help you manage 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 moment.
- Machine learning: Cutting-edge algorithms (called machine learning) can help your hearing aids adapt to what you need, even before you know you need it. This is particularly handy when filtering sounds or in a noisy setting.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Out on the boat and want to enjoy some music? Well, your hearing aids can be synced to the boat’s stereo via Bluetooth.
- Noise reduction: You’ll want to have hearing aids that can sort through specific sounds (your ears once did this) so you can appreciate 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.
- Automatic programming: You can dial in your modern hearing aids to automatically switch settings depending on the time of day or setting you find yourself in. This feature makes them more effective and easier to use.
We can help you discover how your particular hearing needs can be met by your hearing aids (for instance, you can ask whether you can use them while you’re going for a swim or hiking in the country, that sort of thing). Hearing aids frequently don’t play well with water. But all in all, 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? And you should also ask, how do I safeguard my hearing aids from humidity? The answer to both will depend on the model of hearing aid you use.
Some loud sounds you may want to avoid
Some summer sounds, unlike the dawn chorus, will be harmful to your ears and you should make sure to steer clear of them. These loud sounds are a real hazard! And everybody’s ears are at risk even if they don’t have pre-existing hearing loss. Some of those sounds include:
- Boat engines: These engines are loud, so exercise some caution about proximity and exposure time. When you’re fishing, turn the engine off. Or, better yet, put in some earplugs for the entirety of your boat trip.
- Live music: It’s great fun to attend a live music concert but the loud volume can be damaging to your ears. This means you may want to be selective about which shows you see (rather than attending a festival every weekend).
- Fireworks: The dogs are on to something. Going to fireworks shows can definitely harm your ears. This includes both commercial and home launched fireworks. It’s best for your hearing to stay away from fireworks completely.
This is only a partial list. Summer fun for people who have hearing loss may not include quite as many of those fireworks and loud noise situations.
Having said that, you may not be capable of, or even want to, stay away from all loud noises during the summer. So what can you do? Well, you can wear ear protection. For instance, before you go to a live show, put in a set of earplugs so you can minimize most of the damage. You just need to make certain you’re using effective ear protection.
Enjoy the sounds of summer
If you have hearing loss, the sounds of summer might feel like they’re growing further and further away (even as the heat of summer becomes more and more oppressive). And that means you might miss a lot of the season’s joy.
Getting the most from your summer then, might mean making a pit stop with us. We will be able to determine 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 appreciate the dawn chorus. Because birdsongs are just the beginning of those incredible summer sounds.
Get the most out of your ears this summer and beyond. Call us for a hearing exam and discover if hearing aids are the right option for you.