Have you ever woken up after a night’s sleep and heard birds singing a delightful song through your open window? Most individuals 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 favorite melody. The songs of these birds, when they’re all sounding together, are a lovely symphony.
But you might not hear the “dawn chorus” at all if you have neglected hearing loss. Which is a pity.
That’s especially true because it isn’t just birdsong you may be missing out on. Summer is full of amazing sounds. And if you find yourself missing out on the sounds of summer, it could be because of some undiagnosed (or diagnosed and neglected) hearing loss. 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
When you think about summer, you likely begin by imagining the sun in a blue sky. And, a very, very hot sun (whew). And then you begin to visualize the summer soundtrack that comes with this vision. Some sounds you may think about:
- Something as simple as your grandchildren laughing, perhaps as they run around the yard or as you watch a baseball game together.
- The sound of birds singing, especially in the spring during, ahem, mating season. (Humans aren’t the only species to utilize love songs.)
- Peepers and crickets chirping a symphony as the sun goes down.
- Bees buzzing about helping nature bloom by pollinating flowers.
- The crashing of waves on the beach (or a babbling creek if you’re in a more landlocked area).
You get the idea. There are lots of sounds going on. The experience and vibe of summer are greatly enhanced by these sounds. Plus, there is so much pleasure in these simple sounds themselves.
If these summer sounds (or any summer sounds) seem foreign to you these days, it’s most likely because an apparent amount of hearing loss has successfully crept up on you. Once you’ve noticed that issue, the next step is to do something about it.
Hearing aids can help you enjoy summer
For most, hearing aids are really about creating relationships. Communication is key. You’ll be more aware of what’s taking place around you, better able to communicate with people around you, and enjoy the sounds in your life. And at those summer cook-outs, for example, that’s even more relevant.
The newest models of hearing aids can help you savor the sounds of summer, and they are equipped with some pretty great built in tech, as well. Here are some instances of some of that powerful technology:
- Rechargeability: Your battery will remain charged throughout the day after charging when you are sleeping at night. Basically, you can charge your hearing aids in the same way you charge your cellphone. And when you vacation with your hearing aids, it becomes especially stress free.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Boating on the lake and want to enjoy some music? Well, your hearing aids can be synced to the boat’s stereo via Bluetooth.
- Noise reduction: You’ll want to have hearing aids that can sort through particular sounds (your ears used to do this) so you can appreciate those crashing waves without having the traffic behind you amplified as well. Modern hearing aids have substantial noise reduction features, so you can hear what you really want to hear.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can sync your hearing aids to your smartphone and begin making the most of all sorts of features. Many phones will now allow you to download apps that help you manage the settings on your hearing aids, so you can adjust for birdsong or grandkid’s laughter depending on what you want to hear at that moment.
- Machine learning: Cutting-edge algorithms (called machine learning) can help your hearing aids adapt to what you need, even before you need it. This is especially handy when filtering sounds or in a loud environment.
- Automatic programming: Contemporary hearing aids can automatically adjust to new settings or times of day, depending on how you program them. This feature makes them more effective and easier to use.
We can help you discover how your particular hearing needs can be met by your hearing aids (for example, you can ask whether you can use them while you’re swimming or hiking in the country, that type of thing). Hearing aids frequently don’t play well with water. But you will have a richer overall summer experience with your hearing aids.
Also, asking us basic questions about your hearing aid model will be a practical idea. Will your hearing aids have an issue with hot weather, for example? And you should also ask, how can I safeguard my hearing aids from humidity? Depending on the model of hearing aid, the answer to these questions will differ.
Perhaps avoid these sounds
As much as you enjoy the sound of the dawn chorus, there are a few other summer sounds that could actually be harmful to your hearing, so you’ll probably want to avoid them. These are sounds that are, well, noisy! And they’re harmful to everyone’s ears, not just individuals with pre-existing hearing loss. Here are some of those sounds:
- Live music: It’s a lot of 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 careful of how close you get and how long you spend around these engines because they’re very loud. Try not to keep the motor idling when you’re fishing. Or, even better, put in some earplugs for the duration of your boat trip.
- Fireworks: Dogs have the right idea. Attending fireworks shows can definitely harm your ears. Furthermore, being close to home-launched fireworks can also be damaging to your hearing (and limbs). It’s best for your hearing to keep away from fireworks entirely.
This is only a partial list. Summer activities for individuals with hearing loss might not include quite as many of those fireworks and loud noise conditions.
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? Well, you can use ear protection. Popping in a pair of earplugs before you see any live music show can mitigate a lot of the damage, for example. But it’s important that the hearing protection you chooses is effective.
Have fun this summer and enjoy the sounds
As the heat of summer becomes more oppressive, if you have 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 identify the state of your hearing and, if necessary, help decide what kind of hearing aid will best suit your needs.
So if you want to appreciate the dawn chorus, that’s where you should start. Because birdsongs are only the beginning of those incredible summer sounds.
Get your hearing tuned up this summer. Make an appointment today to find out which hearing aids are best for you!