Have you ever woken up after a night’s sleep and heard birds singing a wonderful song through your open window? Turns out, there’s a term for all those birdsongs: the dawn chorus. For whatever reason, birds see the sun coming up and decide to start singing their favorite songs. The songs of these birds, when they’re all sounding together, are a lovely symphony.
Of course, if you have untreated hearing loss, you may not notice the dawn chorus at all. And that’s unfortunate.
There are a lot of amazing sounds during the summer besides birdsongs that you may be missing. And you may be missing those summer sounds because you have hearing loss that’s gone undiagnosed or simply neglected. The good news in these instances is that a device like a hearing aid could help you appreciate and enjoy your summer days more fully.
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 little longer, you’ll begin adding details that make this blue sky feel more like summer, the sounds that fill in the day. You may be thinking about:
- The babbling of a creek or the crashing of waves.
- Something as basic as your grandkids laughing, possibly as they run around the yard or as you catch a baseball game together.
- The sound of birds singing, especially in the spring during, ahem, mating season. (Love songs aren’t just enjoyed by humans.)
- Bees buzzing about helping nature bloom by pollinating flowers.
- The sound of frogs croaking at night, especially in the early hours of the evening.
You get the point. There are lots of sounds happening. The feeling and vibe of summer are significantly enhanced by these sounds. And these sounds in and of themselves bring great happiness.
If these summer sounds (or any summer sounds) seem foreign to you these days, it’s likely because an apparent amount of hearing loss has successfully snuck up on you. If you have noticed your hearing loss then you should get some help with it.
Your summer can be more enjoyable with hearing aids
For most individuals, hearing aids are really about creating connections. Communication is key. They make it easier to talk to others, to hear what’s happening around you, and to enjoy 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 savor the sounds of summer, and they come with some rather amazing built in tech, too. Here are some examples of some of that potent technology:
- Smartphone compatibility: You can sync your hearing aids to your cellphone and start making the most of all kinds of features. Many cell phones will now enable 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 time.
- Automatic programming: You can dial in your modern hearing aids to automatically change settings depending on the time of day or environment you find yourself in. This function makes them more effective and easier to use.
- Rechargeability: You can recharge your hearing aid while sleeping and enjoy full batteries all through the day. Essentially, you can charge your hearing aids the same way you charge your cellphone. And when you vacation with your hearing aids, it becomes really hassle free.
- Machine learning: Your hearing aid can use “machine learning”, which are sophisticated intelligent algorithms, to adapt to your audio landscape before you even knew it needed to. This is particularly handy when filtering sounds or in a noisy environment.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Perhaps you want some tunes while you’re out boating. Just connect the boat’s radio to your hearing aids using Bluetooth.
- Noise reduction: You’ll want to get hearing aids that can differentiate specific sounds (your ears used to do this) so you can enjoy those crashing waves without having the traffic behind you amplified as well. Noise reduction features are common in modern hearing aids so you will be capable of dialing in the sounds you want to hear.
We can help you discover how your particular hearing needs can be met by your hearing aids (for instance, you can ask whether you can use them while you’re going for a swim or hiking up a mountain, that sort of thing). Hearing aids usually don’t play well with water. But you will have a deeper overall summer experience with your hearing aids.
You’ll also want to ask us some standard questions about your hearing aid models. Will your hearing aids have an issue with hot weather, for example? Also, does humidity have any effect on my hearing aid and how can I safeguard it? The answer to both questions will depend on the model of hearing aid you have.
Maybe avoid these sounds
Some summer sounds, unlike the dawn chorus, will be harmful to your ears and you should be certain to avoid them. These are sounds that are, well, loud! And everyone’s ears are at risk even if they don’t have pre-existing hearing loss. Some of those sounds include:
- Fireworks: Dogs have the right idea. Your hearing can definitely be harmed by fireworks. Likewise, being close to home-launched fireworks can also be damaging to your hearing (and limbs). Best to just stay away from fireworks completely.
- Boat engines: These engines are loud, so exercise some caution about distance and duration. When you’re fishing, shut the engine off. Or, better yet, pop in some earplugs for the entirety of your boat trip.
- Live music: Outdoor concerts are a great part of summer, but they can be harmful to your hearing. This means you may want to be particular about which shows you see (rather than going to a festival every weekend).
This is only a partial list. Summer fun for individuals who have hearing loss may not include quite as many of those fireworks and loud noise conditions.
Having said that, you may not be able to, or even want to, stay away from all loud noises during the summer. So what can you do? Well, you can wear ear protection. For example, before you go to a concert, put in a set of earplugs so you can reduce a lot of the damage. You just need to make certain you’re using reliable ear protection.
Appreciate 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, much of the joy of the season could get lost.
Getting the most from your summer then, might require coming to see us. We can help determine the state of your hearing and, if necessary, help decide what type of hearing loss will best suit your needs.
So if you want to enjoy the dawn chorus, that’s where you need to begin. Because birdsongs are only the beginning of those incredible summer sounds.
Get the most out of your ears this summer and beyond. Schedule an appointment today to find out which hearing aids are best for you!
