Have you ever slept with your bedroom window open and awoke to the wonderful sound of birds singing as the sun is coming up? Turns out, there’s a term for all those birdsongs: the dawn chorus. For whatever reason, birds see the sun rising and decide to start singing their favorite songs. Each species has its own set of chirps and notes, and together, they sound like a symphony of nature.
Of course, if you have neglected hearing loss, you may not notice the dawn chorus at all. And that’s sad.
There are a lot of incredible sounds during the summer besides birdsongs that you might be missing. And you might 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 more fully enjoy your summer.
Summer sounds
You most likely think of a really hot sun in a clear blue sky when you think about summer. But if you stay in 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 symphony of frogs croaking at night, particularly in the early hours of the night.
- The buzzing of bees as they fly around pollinating flowers and helping nature bloom.
- The sound of birds performing mating songs. (Humans aren’t the only species to employ love songs.)
- The crashing of waves on the beach (or a babbling creek if you’re in a more landlocked area).
- Something as simple as your grandkids laughing, possibly as they run around the yard or as you catch a baseball game together.
You get the idea. Summer is alive with wonderful sounds. The experience and vibe of summer are significantly enhanced by these sounds. Plus, there is so much happiness in these simple sounds themselves.
If these summer sounds (or any summer sounds) seem foreign to you these days, it’s likely because a noticeable amount of hearing loss has effectively snuck up on you. If you have noticed your hearing loss then you should get some help with it.
Your summer can be more enjoyable with hearing aids
Building relationships is what hearing aids are really all about for most. They’re about communication. You’ll be more aware of what’s taking place around you, better able to communicate with those around you, and appreciate the sounds in your world. And at those summer barbecues, for example, that’s even more relevant.
The latest models of hearing aids can help you bask in the sounds of summer, and they are equipped with some really great built in tech, too. For instance, most contemporary hearing aids provide:
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Perhaps you want some tunes while you’re out on the boat. Well, your hearing aids can be synced to the boat’s stereo using Bluetooth.
- Noise reduction: You’ll want to get 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.
- Machine learning: Your hearing aid can utilize “machine learning”, which are sophisticated intelligent algorithms, to adapt to your audio landscape before you even recognized it needed to. This is particularly convenient when filtering sounds or in a noisy setting.
- Automatic programming: Modern hearing aids can automatically adapt to new environments or times of day, depending on how you program them. This function makes them more reliable and simpler to use.
- Rechargeability: You can recharge your hearing aid while you sleep and get full batteries all through the day. Basically, you can charge your hearing aids in the same way you charge your cellphone. And when you travel with your hearing aids, it becomes especially stress free.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can sync your hearing aids to your smartphone and begin making the most of all kinds of features. Depending on the specific hearing situation, you will be able to manage the settings on your hearing aids by utilizing an app you can download on most cell phones.
You can ask us about how your pair of hearing aids are appropriate 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 sort of thing). Hearing aids and water-sports don’t always get along. But in general, your hearing aids will make your summer an all around richer 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 can I protect my hearing aids from moisture in the air? Depending on the model of hearing aid, the answer to these questions will vary.
Some loud sounds you may want to steer clear of
As much as you enjoy the sound of the dawn chorus, there are some other summer sounds that could actually be harmful to your hearing, so you’ll probably want to avoid them. These loud sounds are a real hazard! And they’re damaging to everyone’s ears, not just individuals with 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, even better, put in some earplugs for the duration of your boat trip.
- Live music: Outdoor concerts are a fun part of summer, but they can be harmful to your hearing. This means you might want to be particular about which shows you see (rather than going to a festival every weekend).
- Fireworks: Dogs have the right idea. Going to fireworks shows can certainly harm your hearing. Furthermore, being close to home-launched fireworks can also be damaging to your ears (and limbs). Best to just avoid fireworks completely.
This list isn’t exhaustive. Summer activities for individuals who have hearing loss may not include quite as many of those fireworks and loud noise conditions.
But even with hearing loss you probably won’t want to stay away from every noisy summer event. So what’s the solution? Using ear protection is the best option. Putting in a set of earplugs before you see any live music show can minimize much of the damage, for example. You just need to make certain you’re using effective ear protection.
Enjoy the sounds of summer
As the heat of summer becomes more oppressive, if you have hearing loss, the summer sounds may feel like they’re getting further away. And that means you could miss a lot of the season’s joy.
Getting the most from your summer then, might require coming to see us. We will be able to figure out whether your hearing is waning or not, and what kind of hearing aid will be best for your situation.
So start here if you’re ready to enjoy the dawn chorus. Because birdsongs are only the beginning of those incredible summer sounds.
Get your hearing tuned up this summer. Schedule an appointment today to find out which hearing aids are right for you!
