Have you ever woken up after a night’s sleep and heard birds singing a pleasant song through your open window? Most people probably don’t even know that those bird songs are called 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 sounding together, are a beautiful symphony.
Of course, if you have untreated hearing loss, you may not notice the dawn chorus at all. And that’s unfortunate.
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 could be because of some undiagnosed (or diagnosed and ignored) hearing loss. The good news in these situations is that a device like a hearing aid may help you appreciate and enjoy your summer days more fully.
The sounds of summer
You most likely think of a really hot sun in a clear blue sky when you think about summer. And then you begin to visualize the summer soundtrack that goes along with this vision. Some sounds you might think about:
- Bees buzzing around helping nature bloom by pollinating flowers.
- The babbling of a stream or the crashing of waves.
- Peepers and crickets chirping a symphony as the sun sets.
- The sound of birds performing mating songs. (Humans aren’t the only species to utilize love songs.)
- The sound of your grandkids playing and laughing.
You get the idea. There are a bunch of sounds happening. These are the sounds that complete your summer, give it quality, and help create that overall vibe. And these sounds by themselves bring great happiness.
It’s feasible that hearing loss may have crept up on you, particularly if these or any other summer sounds sound to be different to you these days. Once you’ve noticed that problem, 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. They make it easier to converse with others, to hear what’s going on around you, and to appreciate the sounds that you hear. And at those summer barbecues, for instance, that’s even more important.
Modern hearing aids have some fantastic technology that will help you bask in those summer sounds. Here are some examples of some of that powerful technology:
- Rechargeability: You can recharge your hearing aid while you sleep and enjoy full batteries all through the day. Basically, you can charge your hearing aids in the same way you charge your cellphone. This also makes traveling with hearing aids a lot easier.
- 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 out these sounds (just like your ears once did). Noise reduction features are normal in modern hearing aids so you will be capable of dialing in the sounds you want to hear.
- 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 noisy settings or when eliminating particular sounds, this can be especially handy.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Perhaps you want some music playing while you’re out on the boat. Well, your hearing aids can be synced to the boat’s stereo via Bluetooth.
- Automatic programming: Modern hearing aids can automatically adapt to new settings or times of day, depending on how they’re programmed. This function makes them more reliable and simpler to use.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can begin to appreciate all types of features by syncing your hearing aid to your cellphone. Depending on the specific hearing situation, you will be able to control the settings on your hearing aids by utilizing an app you can download on most cell phones.
We can help you learn how your particular hearing needs can be met by your hearing aids (for example, you can ask whether you can wear them while you’re going for a swim or hiking up a mountain, that kind of thing). Hearing aids and water-sports don’t always get along. But you will have a deeper overall summer experience with your hearing aids.
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 instance? 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.
Some loud sounds you may want to avoid
Some summer sounds, unlike the dawn chorus, will be harmful to your ears and you should make sure to steer clear of them. These are sounds that are, well, noisy! And everybody’s ears are vulnerable even if they don’t have pre-existing hearing loss. Some of those sounds include:
- Boat engines: Be cautious of how close you get and how long you spend near these engines because they’re really loud. Try not to keep the motor idling when you’re fishing. Or, even better, pop in some earplugs for the duration of your boat trip.
- Live music: Outdoor concerts are a great part of summer, but they can be harmful to your ears. This means you might want to be particular about which shows you see (rather than attending a festival every weekend).
- Fireworks: The dogs are on to something. Going to fireworks shows can certainly harm your hearing. This includes both commercial and home launched fireworks. Best to just stay away from fireworks altogether.
This list isn’t exhaustive. Summer fun for people with hearing loss may not include quite as many of those fireworks and loud noise situations.
But even with hearing loss you probably won’t want to avoid every loud summer event. So what’s the solution? Well, you can wear ear protection. Popping in a set of earplugs before you see any live music show can minimize a lot of the damage, for instance. You just need to make certain you’re using reliable ear protection.
Enjoy the sounds of summer
As the heat of summer becomes more oppressive, if you are dealing with hearing loss, the summer sounds might seem like they’re getting further away. Which means, a lot of the joy of the season could get lost.
So you may need to pay us a visit if you want to make sure you get the most from your summer. We will be able to identify 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 amazing summer sounds.
Get your hearing tuned up this summer. Make an appointment today to find out which hearing aids are right for you!