Have you ever slept with the window in your bedroom open and awoke to the wonderful sound of birds singing just as the sun comes up? Most individuals 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 sing out their favorite melody. The songs of these birds, when they’re all singing together, are a beautiful symphony.
Of course, if you have neglected hearing loss, you might not notice the dawn chorus at all. And that’s unfortunate.
There are a lot of incredible sounds during the summer besides birdsongs that you could be missing. And if you find yourself oblivious to the sounds of summer, it may be because of 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 more fully enjoy your summer.
Summer sounds
You probably think of a very hot sun in a clear blue sky when you think of summer. But if you stick with your imagination a bit longer, you’ll start adding details that make this blue sky feel more like summer, the sounds that fill out the day. You might be thinking about:
- The sound of birds singing out mating songs. (Humans aren’t the only species to employ love songs.)
- The sound of your grandchildren laughing and playing.
- The sound of frogs croaking at night, especially in the early hours of the evening.
- The crashing of waves on the beach (or a babbling brook if you’re in a more inland area).
- The buzzing of bees as they fly around pollinating flowers and helping the landscape bloom.
These are just a few examples. Summer is lively with wonderful sounds. The experience and vibe of summer are greatly enhanced by these sounds. And these sounds by themselves bring great happiness.
If these summer sounds (or any sounds of summer) seem foreign to you these days, it’s most likely because an apparent level of hearing loss has successfully snuck up on you. If you have recognized your hearing loss then you should get something done about it.
Your summer can be more enjoyable with hearing aids
Building relationships is what hearing aids are really about for most. Communication is key. 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 world. 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 pretty great built in tech, as well. For example, most modern hearing aids provide:
- Smartphone compatibility: You can begin to enjoy all kinds of features by connecting your hearing aid to your smartphone. Many phones will now enable 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 time.
- 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 especially convenient when filtering sounds or in a noisy environment.
- 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 common in modern hearing aids so you will be capable of dialing in the sounds you want to hear.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Maybe you want some music playing while you’re out on the boat. Just sync the boat’s radio to your hearing aids via Bluetooth.
- Rechargeability: You can recharge your hearing aid while you sleep and enjoy full batteries throughout the day. Basically, you can charge your hearing aids the same way you charge your cellphone. And when you vacation with your hearing aids, it becomes very stress free.
- Automatic programming: Modern hearing aids can automatically adjust to new environments or times of day, depending on how they’re programmed. This feature makes them more reliable and simpler to use.
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 wear them while you’re swimming or hiking in the country, that sort of thing). Hearing aids usually don’t get along with water. But as a whole, your hearing aids will make your summer an all around livelier experience.
You’ll also want to ask us some standard questions about your hearing aid models. Will your hearing aids have a problem with hot weather, for example? And you should also ask, how do I safeguard my hearing aids from moisture in the air? Depending on the model of hearing aid, the answer to these questions will differ.
Maybe avoid these sounds
Some summer sounds, unlike the dawn chorus, will be harmful to your ears and you should make sure to avoid them. These are sounds that are, well, noisy! And everyone’s ears are at risk even if they don’t have pre-existing hearing loss. Here are a few of those sounds:
- Live music: It’s a lot of fun to go and see a live music concert but the loud volume can be damaging to your hearing. So you may want to use some caution and be picky about which concerts you attend and use earplugs.
- Boat engines: Be careful of how close you get and how long you spend near these engines because they are really loud. Try not to keep the motor running when you’re fishing. Or, even better, pop in some earplugs for the duration of your boat trip.
- Fireworks: Dogs have the right idea. Going to fireworks shows can definitely harm your ears. This includes both commercial and home launched fireworks. Best to just avoid fireworks altogether.
This list is not exhaustive. Summer fun for people with hearing loss might not include quite as many of those fireworks and loud noise conditions.
But even with hearing loss you probably won’t want to avoid every loud summer activity. So what can you do? Well, you can wear ear protection. Popping in a set of earplugs before you see any live music show can mitigate much of the damage, for example. You just need to make certain 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 might feel like they’re getting further and further away (even as the heat of summer gets more and more oppressive). And that means you might miss a lot of the season’s joy.
So you may need to come in and see us if you want to be certain that you get the most out of your summer. We will be able to determine whether your hearing is failing or not, and what kind of hearing aid will best suit your needs.
So begin here if you’re ready to enjoy the dawn chorus. Because birdsongs are just the beginning of those awesome summer sounds.
Get a hearing tune-up this summer. Call us for a hearing test and find out if hearing aids are the right choice for you.