Have you ever woken up after a night’s sleep and heard birds singing a wonderful song through your open window? Most people probably don’t even know that those bird songs are called the “dawn chorus”. For whatever reason, birds see the sun coming up and decide to start belting out their favorite songs. The songs of these birds, when they’re all sounding together, are a beautiful symphony.
But you might not notice the “dawn chorus” at all if you have neglected hearing loss. And that’s sad.
That’s especially true because it isn’t just birdsong you might be missing out on. Summer is full of incredible sounds. And if you find yourself missing out on the sounds of summer, it might be due to some undiagnosed (or diagnosed and ignored) hearing loss. But you can start to enjoy all of those amazing summer sounds again with the help of a device like a hearing aid.
Summer sounds
You likely think of a really 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 incorporating highlights that make this blue sky feel more like summer, the sounds that fill in the day. Some sounds you might think about:
- Bees buzzing around helping nature bloom by pollinating flowers.
- The sound of birds singing, especially in the spring during, ahem, mating season. (Humans aren’t the only species to use love songs.)
- The babbling of a creek or the crashing of waves.
- Something as simple as your grandchildren laughing, perhaps as they run around the yard or as you watch a baseball game with each other.
- Peepers and crickets chirping a symphony as the sun sets.
You get the point. Summer is alive with wonderful sounds. These are the sounds that fill in your summer, give it quality, and help establish that overall vibe. And these sounds in and of themselves bring great happiness.
It’s feasible that hearing loss may have crept up on you, especially if these or any other summer sounds seem to be different to you these days. Once you’ve noticed that issue, the next step is to take action.
Hearing aids can help you enjoy summer
Building relationships is what hearing aids are really about for most. Communication is key. You’ll be more mindful of what’s happening around you, better able to communicate with those around you, and enjoy the sounds in your world. And at those summer barbecues, for example, 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, too. For example, most contemporary hearing aids provide:
- Machine learning: Fancy algorithms (called machine learning) can help your hearing aids adjust 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 roar of traffic behind you, you’ll want hearing aids that can help you sort through these sounds (just like your ears used to do). 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: Out on the boat and want to enjoy some tunes? Just connect the boat’s radio to your hearing aids via Bluetooth.
- Rechargeability: Your battery will remain charged all day after charging while you sleep at night. Basically, you can charge your hearing aids in the same way you charge your cellphone. This also makes vacationing with hearing aids much easier.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can connect your hearing aids to your cellphone and start enjoying all kinds of features. 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 time.
- Automatic programming: You can program your modern hearing aids to automatically change settings depending on the time of day or environment you find yourself in. This function makes them more reliable and simpler to use.
You can ask us about how your set of hearing aids are appropriate for your favorite activities (you can ask us whether you can bring your hearing aids into the water or on a mountain hike for example). Hearing aids and water-sports don’t always play nice together. But all in all, your hearing aids will make your summer an all around richer experience.
You’ll also want to ask us some basic questions about your hearing aid models. Will your hearing aids have a problem with hot weather, for example? Also, does humidity have any effect on my hearing aid and how can I protect it? The answer to both questions will depend on the model of hearing aid you use.
Perhaps avoid these sounds
As much as you love the sound of the dawn chorus, there are a few other summer sounds that could actually be damaging 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 people who have pre-existing hearing loss. Here are a few of those sounds:
- Boat engines: These engines are loud, so exercise some caution about proximity and exposure time. Try not to keep the motor idling when you’re fishing. Or, an even better idea would be to use some earplugs.
- Fireworks: The dogs are on to something. Your hearing can definitely be damaged by fireworks. Likewise, being close to home-launched fireworks can also be harmful to your hearing (and limbs). Best to just stay away from fireworks altogether.
- Live music: Outdoor concerts are a great part of summer, but they can be damaging to your hearing. This means you might want to be selective about which shows you see (rather than attending a festival every weekend).
This list isn’t exhaustive. For people who are coping with hearing loss, summer might have a few less of these loud activities.
Having said that, you might not be capable of, or even want to, avoid all loud noises during the summer. So what can you do? Well, you can use ear protection. Putting in a set of earplugs before you go to any live music show can minimize a lot of the damage, for example. But it’s essential that the hearing protection you chooses is effective.
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 becomes more and more oppressive). Which means, a lot of the joy of the season could pass you by.
So you might need to come in and see us if you want to make sure you get the most out of your summer. We can help identify the state of your hearing and, if needed, help determine what type of hearing aids will best suit your needs.
So start here if you’re ready to appreciate the dawn chorus. And you’ll also be able to enjoy all of the other awesome summer sounds.
Get the most from your ears this summer and beyond. Call us for a hearing test and find out if hearing aids are the right choice for you.