Have you ever slept with your bedroom window open and woken up to the lovely sound of birds singing just as the sun comes up? Most individuals probably don’t even know 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. Each species has its own set of chirps and notes, and together, they sound like a symphony of nature.
Of course, if you have untreated hearing loss, you might not notice the dawn chorus at all. Which is a pity.
That’s particularly true because it’s not just birdsong you might be missing out on. Summer is full of amazing sounds. And if you find yourself oblivious to the sounds of summer, it may be due to some undiagnosed (or diagnosed and ignored) hearing loss. The good news in these instances is that a device like a hearing aid may help you appreciate and enjoy your summer days more fully.
Summer sounds
You probably think of a very hot sun in a clear blue sky when you think about summer. But if you stick with your imagination a little longer, you’ll begin incorporating details that make this blue sky seem more like summer, the sounds that fill in the day. Some sounds you might think about:
- The buzzing of bees as they fly around pollinating flowers and helping the landscape bloom.
- Peepers and crickets chirping a symphony as the sun sets.
- Something as basic as your grandkids laughing, possibly as they run about the yard or as you catch a baseball game with each other.
- The crashing of waves on the beach (or a babbling brook if you’re in a more landlocked area).
- The sound of birds chirping, especially in the spring during, ahem, mating season. (Love songs aren’t just enjoyed by humans.)
These are only a few examples. Summer is alive with wonderful sounds. These are the sounds that fill in your summer, give it texture, and help create that overall vibe. Plus, there is so much happiness in these simple sounds themselves.
It’s possible that hearing loss might have snuck up on you, particularly if these or any other summer sounds seem to be different to you these days. If you have recognized your hearing loss then you should get something done about it.
Hearing aids can help you enjoy summer
Building relationships 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 that’s especially significant at those summer barbecues, for example.
Modern hearing aids have some incredible technology that will help you bask in those summer sounds. For example, most modern hearing aids provide:
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Perhaps you want some tunes while you’re out on the boat. Just connect the boat’s radio to your hearing aids using Bluetooth.
- Rechargeability: You can recharge your hearing aid while sleeping and get full batteries throughout the day. Essentially, you can charge your hearing aids in the same way you charge your cellphone. And when you vacation with your hearing aids, it becomes very hassle free.
- Automatic programming: Contemporary hearing aids can automatically adapt to new environments or times of day, depending on how you program them. This makes them simpler to use and more effective.
- 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 normal in modern hearing aids so you will be capable of dialing in the sounds you want to hear.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can begin to appreciate all kinds of features by syncing your hearing aid to your smartphone. Many cell 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 grandkid’s laughter depending on what you want to hear at that time.
- Machine learning: Fancy algorithms (called machine learning) can help your hearing aids adjust to what you need, even before you know you need it. This is especially convenient when filtering sounds or in a loud environment.
You can ask us about how your pair of hearing aids are suitable for your favorite adventures (you can ask us if you can bring your hearing aids into the water or on a mountain hike for example). Hearing aids and water-sports don’t always get along. But in general, your hearing aids will make your summer an all around livelier experience.
Also, asking us basic questions about your hearing aid model will be a good idea. Will your hearing aids have a problem with hot weather, for instance? Also, does humidity have any effect on my hearing aid and how can I protect it? Depending on the model of hearing aid, the answer to these questions will differ.
Some loud sounds you may want to avoid
As much as you love the sound of the dawn chorus, there are some other summer sounds that could actually be damaging to your hearing, so you’ll probably want to avoid them. These noisy sounds are a real hazard! And everyone’s ears are at risk even if they don’t have pre-existing hearing loss. Here are some of those sounds:
- Live music: It’s great fun to attend a live music concert but the loud volume can be damaging to your ears. So you may want to exercise some caution and be picky about which shows you attend and wear earplugs.
- Boat engines: These engines are loud, so exercise some caution about proximity and duration. Try not to keep the motor idling when you’re fishing. Or, an even better plan would be to use some earplugs.
- Fireworks: The dogs are on to something. Attending fireworks shows can certainly harm your hearing. Similarly, being near home-launched fireworks can also be harmful to your ears (and limbs). Best to just stay away from fireworks altogether.
This is only a partial list. For people who are coping with hearing loss, summer may have a few less of these loud events.
That said, you might not be able to, or even want to, stay away from all loud noises over the summer. So what’s the strategy? Using ear protection is the best option. Popping in a pair 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 effective ear protection.
Enjoy the sounds of summer
As the heat of summer gets more oppressive, if you have hearing loss, the summer sounds may seem like they’re getting further away. And that means you could miss a lot of the season’s joy.
So you may need to pay us a visit if you want to be certain that you get the most out of your summer. We can help identify the state of your hearing and, if necessary, help determine what kind of hearing aids will best suit your needs.
So if you want to appreciate the dawn chorus, that’s where you should start. And you’ll also be able to enjoy all of the other awesome summer sounds.
Get your hearing tuned up this summer. Call us for a hearing test and find out if hearing aids are the right option for you.