Have you ever awoke after a night’s sleep and heard birds singing a wonderful song through your open window? So happens, there’s a name for all those birdsongs: 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 beautiful symphony.
But you might not hear the “dawn chorus” at all if you have neglected hearing loss. Which is a pity.
There are a lot of amazing sounds during the summer besides birdsongs that you might be missing. And you might be missing those summer sounds because you have hearing loss that’s gone undiagnosed or simply ignored. The good news in these instances is that a device like a hearing aid could help you appreciate and more fully enjoy your summer.
The sounds of summer
You likely think of a really hot sun in a clear blue sky when you think of summer. And then you start to imagine the summer soundtrack that goes along with this vision. You might be thinking about:
- The sound of birds performing mating songs. (Humans aren’t the only species to use love songs.)
- The symphony of frogs croaking at night, especially in the early hours of the evening.
- The buzzing of bees as they fly around pollinating flowers and helping nature bloom.
- The sound of your grandkids playing and laughing.
- The babbling of a creek or the crashing of waves.
These are only a few examples. Summer is alive with wonderful sounds. These are the sounds that fill in your summer, give it quality, and help deliver that overall vibe. And these sounds in and of themselves bring great happiness.
It’s possible 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. If you have noticed your hearing loss then you need to get something done about it.
Hearing aids can help you enjoy summer
Building connections is what hearing aids are really 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 appreciate the sounds that you hear. And at those summer barbecues, for instance, that’s even more important.
The newest models of hearing aids can help you bask in the sounds of summer, and they are equipped with some pretty great built in tech, too. For example, most modern hearing aids provide:
- Automatic programming: Contemporary hearing aids can automatically adapt to new settings or times of day, depending on how you program them. This makes them simpler to use and more effective.
- 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 (just like your ears once did). Noise reduction features are normal in modern hearing aids so you will be able to dial in the sounds you want to hear.
- Machine learning: Your hearing aid can use “machine learning”, which are advanced intelligent algorithms, to adjust to your audio landscape before you even knew it needed to. In loud settings or when filtering out specific sounds, this can be especially handy.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Out on the boat and want to enjoy some tunes? Just connect the boat’s radio to your hearing aids using Bluetooth.
- Rechargeability: You can recharge your hearing aid while you sleep and get full batteries throughout the day. It’s much like charging your phone. This also makes traveling with hearing aids much easier.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can start to appreciate all types of features by syncing your hearing aid to your smartphone. Many phones will now permit 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 moment.
You can ask us about how your set of hearing aids are suitable for your favorite activities (you can ask us whether you can take 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 you will have a richer 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 an issue with hot weather, for instance? And you should also ask, how can 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
As much as you love 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 noisy sounds are a real hazard! And they’re damaging to everyone’s ears, not just those with pre-existing hearing loss. Here are a few of those sounds:
- Boat engines: These engines are loud, so use some caution about distance and duration. When you’re fishing, shut the engine off. Or, better yet, put in some earplugs for the entirety of your boat trip.
- Live music: Outdoor concerts are a fun part of summer, but they can be damaging to your ears. So you may want to exercise some caution and be picky about which concerts you attend and wear earplugs.
- Fireworks: The dogs are on to something. Your hearing can definitely be harmed by fireworks. This includes both commercial and home launched fireworks. It’s best for your hearing to keep away from fireworks completely.
This is only a partial list. Summer activities for individuals who have hearing loss may not include quite as many of those fireworks and loud noise situations.
Having said that, you may not be able to, or even want to, avoid 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 live show, 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.
Enjoy the sounds of summer
If you are dealing with hearing loss, the sounds of summer may 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 pay us a visit if you want to be certain that you get the most out of your summer. We will be able to figure out whether your hearing is waning or not, and what kind of hearing aid will be best for your situation.
So if you want to appreciate the dawn chorus, that’s where you need to start. And you’ll also be able to enjoy all of the other awesome summer sounds.
Get your hearing tuned up this summer. Make an appointment today to find out which hearing aids are best for you!