Have you ever awoke after a night’s sleep and heard birds singing a beautiful song through your open window? Most people probably aren’t even aware that the name for those bird-songs is the “dawn chorus”. Birds see the sunrise and, for some reason, decide it’s time to belt out their best melody. The songs of these birds, when they’re all singing together, are a beautiful symphony.
But you might not hear the “dawn chorus” at all if you have untreated hearing loss. Which is a pity.
That’s especially true because it’s not just birdsong you might be missing out on. Summer is full of amazing sounds. And you may be missing those summer sounds because you have hearing loss that’s gone undiagnosed or simply dismissed. But you can begin to enjoy all of those amazing summer sounds again with the help of a device like a hearing aid.
The sounds of summer
You 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 little 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 may think about:
- Bees buzzing about helping nature bloom by pollinating flowers.
- Peepers and crickets chirping a symphony as the sun sets.
- The crashing of waves on the beach (or a babbling creek if you’re in a more inland area).
- The sound of birds singing, particularly in the spring during, ahem, mating season. (Humans aren’t the only species to employ love songs.)
- The sound of your grandkids laughing and playing.
These are only a few examples. Summer is alive with amazing sounds. The feeling and vibe of summer are greatly enhanced by these sounds. Plus, there is so much joy in these everyday summertime sounds themselves.
If these summer sounds (or any summer sounds) seem different to you these days, it’s most likely because an apparent amount of hearing loss has successfully crept up on you. 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. They’re about communication. You’ll be more mindful of what’s taking place around you, better able to communicate with those around you, and appreciate the sounds in your world. And that’s particularly significant at those summer barbecues, for instance.
The newest models of hearing aids can help you savor the sounds of summer, and they come with some rather great built in tech, as well. For instance, most modern hearing aids offer:
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Perhaps you want some music playing while you’re out on the boat. Well, your hearing aids can be connected to the boat’s stereo via Bluetooth.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can connect your hearing aids to your cellphone and start enjoying all kinds of features. Many phones will now permit you to download apps that help you control 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: 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). Modern hearing aids have significant noise reduction features, so you can hear what you really want to hear.
- 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 function makes them more reliable and simpler to use.
- 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 environments or when filtering out particular sounds, this can be especially handy.
- 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.
You can ask us about how your set of hearing aids are suited to your favorite adventures (for instance, you can ask whether you can use them while you’re going for a swim or hiking up a mountain, that kind 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 richer experience.
You’ll also want to ask us some basic questions about your hearing aid models. For example, you should ask, can hot weather affect my hearing aids? And you should also ask, how do I safeguard my hearing aids from humidity? The answer to both will depend on the model of hearing aid you use.
Perhaps stay away from these sounds
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 stay away from them. These are sounds that are, well, noisy! And they’re damaging to everyone’s ears, not just individuals who have pre-existing hearing loss. Here are a few of those sounds:
- Boat engines: Be careful of how close you get and how long you spend near these engines because they’re really loud. When you’re fishing, turn the engine off. Or, better yet, put in some earplugs for the entirety of your boat trip.
- Fireworks: The dogs are on to something. Your hearing can most certainly be damaged by fireworks. Similarly, being close to home-launched fireworks can also be damaging to your hearing (and limbs). Best to simply avoid fireworks completely.
- Live music: It’s great fun to go and see a live music concert but the loud volume can be harmful to your hearing. So you might want to exercise some caution and be picky about which concerts you attend and use earplugs.
This list isn’t exhaustive. For individuals who are dealing with hearing loss, summer might have a few less of these loud events.
Having said that, you might not be able to, or even want to, stay away from all loud noises over the summer. So what can you do? Using ear protection is the best strategy. For example, before you go to a concert, put in a set of earplugs so you can decrease a lot of the damage. But it’s important that the hearing protection you chooses is effective.
Have fun this summer and enjoy the sounds
If you have hearing loss, the sounds of summer may feel like they’re growing further and further away (even as the heat of summer becomes more and more oppressive). Which means, much of the joy of the season could get lost.
So you might need to pay us a visit if you want to be certain that you get the most out of your summer. We can help figure out the state of your hearing and, if needed, help decide what kind of hearing aid will best suit your needs.
So start here if you’re ready to enjoy the dawn chorus. Because birdsongs are just the beginning of those incredible summer sounds.
Get the most from your ears this summer and beyond. Make an appointment today to find out which hearing aids are right for you!
