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 sing out their best melody. The songs of these birds, when they’re all sounding together, are a lovely symphony.
Of course, if you have neglected hearing loss, you might not notice the dawn chorus at all. Which is a shame.
There are a lot of amazing sounds during the summer besides birdsongs that you may be missing. And you might be missing those summer sounds because you have hearing loss that’s gone undiagnosed or simply ignored. The good news in these situations is that a device like a hearing aid may help you appreciate and more fully enjoy your summer.
Summer sounds
When you think about summer, you most likely begin by visualizing the sun in a blue sky. And, a really, really hot sun (whew). And then you start to visualize the summer soundtrack that goes along with this vision. You might be thinking about:
- The sound of frogs croaking at night, particularly in the early hours of the evening.
- The crashing of waves on the beach (or a babbling brook if you’re in a more landlocked area).
- The buzzing of bees as they fly around pollinating flowers and helping the landscape bloom.
- The sound of birds singing out mating songs. (Humans aren’t the only species to utilize love songs.)
- Something as simple as your grandchildren laughing, perhaps as they run around the yard or as you watch a baseball game with each other.
These are just a few examples. Summer is alive with wonderful sounds. The experience and vibe of summer are significantly enhanced by these sounds. And these sounds by themselves bring great joy.
It’s feasible that hearing loss may have crept up on you, especially if these or any other summer sounds sound to be foreign to you these days. If you have detected your hearing loss then you should get something done about it.
Hearing aids can help you enjoy summer
For most people, hearing aids are really about building connections. Communication is key. They make it easier to converse with others, to hear what’s going on around you, and to appreciate the sounds that you hear. And at those summer barbecues, for instance, that’s even more important.
The latest models of hearing aids can help you savor the sounds of summer, and they come with some really great built in tech, as well. For example, most contemporary hearing aids offer:
- Machine learning: Your hearing aid can utilize “machine learning”, which are sophisticated 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.
- 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 feature makes them more effective and simpler to use.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can start to appreciate all kinds of features by syncing your hearing aid to your cellphone. Many cell phones will now allow you to download apps that help you manage the settings on your hearing aids, so you can fine-tune for birdsong or grandchildren’s laughter depending on what you want to hear at that moment.
- Noise reduction: You’ll want to have hearing aids that can sort through specific sounds (your ears once did this) so you can enjoy 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.
- Rechargeability: You can recharge your hearing aid while sleeping and get full batteries throughout the day. It’s a lot like charging your phone. This also makes traveling with hearing aids much easier.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Maybe you want some music playing while you’re out boating. Well, your hearing aids can be connected to the boat’s stereo via Bluetooth.
We can help you discover how your specific hearing needs can be met by your hearing aids (you can ask us whether you can bring your hearing aids into the water or on a mountain hike for example). Hearing aids frequently don’t play well with water. 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 idea. For instance, you should ask, can hot weather impact 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 have.
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 loud sounds are a real hazard! And everyone’s ears are vulnerable even if they don’t have pre-existing hearing loss. Here are a few of those sounds:
- Live music: It’s great fun to go and see a live music concert but the loud volume can be damaging to your ears. This means you might want to be particular about which shows you see (rather than going to a festival every weekend).
- Boat engines: These engines are loud, so use some caution about distance and exposure time. Try not to leave the motor running when you’re fishing. Or, even better, pop in some earplugs for the entirety of your boat trip.
- Fireworks: The dogs are on to something. Your hearing can most certainly be harmed by fireworks. Similarly, being near home-launched fireworks can also be damaging to your ears (and limbs). It’s best for your hearing to keep away from fireworks entirely.
This list is not exhaustive. For individuals who are dealing with hearing loss, summer might have a few less of these noisy events.
But even with hearing loss you most likely won’t want to stay away from every loud summer activity. 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 decrease most of the damage. But it’s essential that the hearing protection you chooses is reliable.
Have fun this summer and enjoy the sounds
As the heat of summer becomes more oppressive, if you are dealing with hearing loss, the summer sounds might feel like they’re getting further away. And that means you could miss a lot of the season’s joy.
Getting the most out of your summer then, may mean making a pit stop with us. We can help determine the state of your hearing and, if necessary, help determine what kind of hearing loss will be the best choice for you.
So start here if you’re ready to appreciate the dawn chorus. Because birdsongs are just the beginning of those amazing summer sounds.
Get your hearing tuned up this summer. Make an appointment today to find out which hearing aids are best for you!