Have you ever awoke after a night’s sleep and heard birds singing a pleasant song through your open window? 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 best melody. Each species has its own set of chirps and notes, and together, they sound like a symphony of nature.
But you may not hear the “dawn chorus” at all if you have untreated hearing loss. Which is a shame.
There are a lot of amazing 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 due to some undiagnosed (or diagnosed and dismissed) 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.
The sounds of summer
You probably 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 details that make this blue sky feel more like summer, the sounds that fill in the day. Some sounds you might think about:
- The sound of birds singing out mating songs. (Humans aren’t the only species to utilize love songs.)
- The babbling of a brook or the crashing of waves.
- Peepers and crickets chirping a symphony as the sun goes down.
- Bees buzzing about helping nature bloom by pollinating flowers.
- Something as simple as your grandchildren laughing, maybe as they run around the yard or as you catch a baseball game together.
You get the idea. There are lots of sounds happening. These are the sounds that complete your summer, give it texture, and help create that overall vibe. Plus, there is so much happiness in these simple sounds themselves.
It’s feasible that hearing loss may have snuck up on you, particularly if these or any other summer sounds sound to be different to you these days. Once you’ve detected that problem, the next step is to do something about it.
Hearing aids can help you enjoy summer
Building connections is what hearing aids are really all about for most. They’re about communication. They make it easier to talk to others, to hear what’s going on around you, and to enjoy the sounds that you hear. And at those summer cook-outs, for instance, that’s even more important.
The latest models of hearing aids can help you bask in the sounds of summer, and they are equipped with some pretty great built in tech, as well. Here are some examples of some of that powerful technology:
- Noise reduction: If you want to hear the sound of crashing waves, but not the thunder of traffic behind you, you’ll want hearing aids that can help you sort out these sounds (in the same way your ears used to do). 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: Perhaps you want some music playing while you’re out boating. Just sync the boat’s radio to your hearing aids using Bluetooth.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can begin to enjoy all types of features by connecting your hearing aid to your smartphone. Depending on the particular hearing situation, you will be able to control the settings on your hearing aids using an app you can download on most cell phones.
- Automatic programming: Modern hearing aids can automatically adjust to new settings or times of day, depending on how you program them. This function makes them more effective and simpler to use.
- Rechargeability: Your battery will remain charged all day after charging when you are sleeping at night. It’s a lot like charging your phone. And when you vacation with your hearing aids, it becomes very stress free.
- Machine learning: Cutting-edge algorithms (called machine learning) can help your hearing aids adjust to what you need, even before you need it. This is especially handy when filtering sounds or in a noisy environment.
You can ask us about how your pair of hearing aids are suitable for your favorite activities (for instance, you can ask whether you can use them while you’re swimming 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 livelier experience.
You’ll also want to ask us some basic questions about your hearing aid models. For instance, you should ask, can hot weather affect my hearing aids? Also, does humidity have any effect on my hearing aid and how can I protect it? Depending on the model of hearing aid, the answer to these questions will differ.
Some loud sounds you may want to steer clear of
As much as you love 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 steer clear of them. These are sounds that are, well, noisy! And they’re damaging to everyone’s ears, not just individuals with pre-existing hearing loss. Some of those sounds include:
- Fireworks: The dogs are on to something. Going to fireworks shows can certainly damage your ears. This goes for both commercial and home launched fireworks. It’s best for your hearing to keep away from fireworks completely.
- Live music: It’s great fun to go and see a live music concert but the loud volume can be damaging to your hearing. So you might want to exercise some caution and be selective about which shows you attend and wear earplugs.
- Boat engines: Be cautious of how close you get and how long you spend near these engines because they are really loud. Try not to leave the motor running when you’re fishing. Or, even better, pop in some earplugs for the duration of your boat trip.
This list isn’t exhaustive. For people who are coping with hearing loss, summer may have a few less of these noisy events.
But even with hearing loss you most likely won’t want to stay away from every noisy summer event. So what’s the solution? Wearing ear protection is the best option. For example, before you go to a concert, put in a set of earplugs so you can minimize a lot of the damage. You just need to make sure you’re using effective ear protection.
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. Which means, a lot of the joy of the season could pass you by.
Getting the most out of your summer then, might mean making a pit stop with us. We can help determine the state of your hearing and, if necessary, help decide what type of hearing aid will be the best choice for you.
So start 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. Schedule an appointment today to find out which hearing aids are right for you!