Have you ever slept with your bedroom window open and woken up to the lovely sound of birds singing just as the sun comes up? Turns out, there’s a term 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. The songs of these birds, when they’re all singing together, are a lovely symphony.
But you might not hear the “dawn chorus” at all if you have neglected hearing loss. Which is a pity.
There are lots of incredible sounds during the summer besides birdsongs that you might be missing. And you may be missing those summer sounds because you have hearing loss that’s gone undiagnosed or simply neglected. The good news in these instances 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 likely begin by visualizing the sun in a blue sky. And, a very, very hot sun (whew). And then you begin to imagine the summer soundtrack that comes with this vision. You might be thinking about:
- The crashing of waves on the beach (or a babbling brook if you’re in a more inland area).
- The sound of your grandkids laughing and playing.
- The buzzing of bees as they fly around pollinating flowers and helping the landscape bloom.
- The sound of birds singing, especially in the spring during, ahem, mating season. (Humans aren’t the only species to utilize love songs.)
- The symphony of frogs croaking at night, particularly in the early hours of the night.
These are only a few examples. There are a bunch of sounds happening. The experience and vibe of summer are greatly enhanced by these sounds. And these sounds in and of themselves bring great happiness.
If these sounds of summer (or any sounds of summer) seem foreign to you these days, it’s likely because a noticeable level of hearing loss has effectively crept up on you. If you have detected your hearing loss then you need to get some help with it.
Hearing aids can help you enjoy summer
For most, hearing aids are really about building relationships. They’re about communication. You’ll be more aware of what’s happening around you, better able to communicate with people around you, and enjoy the sounds in your life. And that’s particularly significant at those summer barbecues, for instance.
The latest models of hearing aids can help you savor the sounds of summer, and they are equipped with some really great built in tech, as well. For instance, most contemporary hearing aids offer:
- Machine learning: Fancy algorithms (called machine learning) can help your hearing aids adapt to what you need, even before you know you need it. In loud settings or when eliminating particular sounds, this can be especially handy.
- Noise reduction: If you want to hear the crashing of the waves, but not the thunder of traffic behind you, you’ll want hearing aids that can help you sort through these sounds (in the same way your ears once did). Noise reduction features are normal in modern hearing aids so you will be able to dial in the sounds you want to hear.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Boating on the lake and want to enjoy some tracks? Well, your hearing aids can be connected to the boat’s stereo via Bluetooth.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can start to appreciate all types of features by syncing your hearing aid to your cellphone. Many 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.
- Automatic programming: Contemporary hearing aids can automatically adjust to new environments or times of day, depending on how you program them. This feature makes them more effective and easier to use.
- Rechargeability: You can recharge your hearing aid while you sleep and get full batteries throughout the day. It’s a lot like charging your phone. And when you travel with your hearing aids, it becomes very hassle free.
We can help you learn how your particular hearing needs can be met by your hearing aids (for example, you can ask whether you can wear them while you’re swimming or hiking in the country, that type of thing). Hearing aids and water-sports don’t always get along. But you will have a deeper overall summer experience with your hearing aids.
Also, asking us basic questions about your hearing aid model will be a practical plan. 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 safeguard it? The answer to both questions will depend on the model of hearing aid you use.
Maybe stay away from these sounds
Some summer sounds, unlike the dawn chorus, will be harmful to your ears and you should be certain to steer clear of them. These loud sounds are a real hazard! And everyone’s ears are at risk even if they don’t have pre-existing hearing loss. Here are a few of those sounds:
- Fireworks: Dogs have the right idea. Your hearing can most certainly be harmed by fireworks. This goes for both commercial and home launched fireworks. Best to just avoid fireworks altogether.
- Live music: It’s a lot of fun to attend a live music concert but the loud volume can be damaging to your ears. So you might want to use some caution and be picky about which concerts you attend and wear earplugs.
- Boat engines: These engines are loud, so exercise some caution about proximity and duration. Try not to leave the motor idling when you’re fishing. Or, better yet, pop in some earplugs for the duration of your boat trip.
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.
But even with hearing loss you probably won’t want to stay away from every noisy summer activity. So what can you do? Well, you can use ear protection. For instance, before you go to a concert, put in a pair of earplugs so you can reduce a lot of the damage. But it’s important that the hearing protection you chooses is effective.
Appreciate the sounds of summer
If you are dealing with hearing loss, the sounds of summer could feel like they’re growing further and further away (even as the heat of summer becomes more and more oppressive). Which means, much of the joy of the season could get lost.
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 can help determine the state of your hearing and, if needed, help decide what kind of hearing aid will best suit your needs.
So begin here if you’re ready to appreciate 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 right for you!
