Have you ever slept with the window in your bedroom 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 those bird songs are called the “dawn chorus”. For whatever reason, birds see the sun coming up and decide to start belting out their favorite songs. Each type of bird has its own kind of song, and together, they sound like a symphony of nature.
Of course, if you have neglected hearing loss, you may not notice the dawn chorus at all. And that’s unfortunate.
That’s particularly true because it’s not just birdsong you may be missing out on. Summer is full of awesome sounds. And if you find yourself oblivious to the sounds of summer, it might be due to some undiagnosed (or diagnosed and neglected) hearing loss. 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
When you think about summer, you most likely start off imagining the sun in a blue sky. And, a very, very hot sun (whew). And then you begin to imagine the summer soundtrack that comes with this vision. You may be thinking about:
- The buzzing of bees as they fly around pollinating flowers and helping nature bloom.
- The symphony of frogs croaking at night, especially in the early hours of the night.
- The crashing of waves on the beach (or a babbling creek if you’re in a more landlocked area).
- The sound of birds chirping, especially in the spring during, ahem, mating season. (Humans aren’t the only species to use love songs.)
- Something as basic as your grandkids laughing, maybe as they run about the yard or as you catch a baseball game together.
You get the idea. There are a bunch of sounds happening. These are the sounds that complete your summer, give it quality, and help establish that overall vibe. And these sounds by themselves bring great happiness.
It’s possible that hearing loss may have snuck up on you, especially if these or any other summer sounds sound to be foreign to you these days. If you have noticed your hearing loss then you should get some help with it.
Hearing aids can help you enjoy summer
For most, hearing aids are really about creating relationships. They’re about communication. 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 world. And at those summer cook-outs, for instance, that’s even more relevant.
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 instances of some of that potent technology:
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Perhaps you want some tunes while you’re out on the boat. Just connect the boat’s radio to your hearing aids via Bluetooth.
- Noise reduction: You’ll want to get hearing aids that can differentiate particular sounds (your ears once did this) so you can appreciate those crashing waves without having the traffic behind you amplified too. Noise reduction features are common 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 adapt to your audio landscape before you even knew it needed to. In loud environments or when eliminating specific sounds, this can be especially handy.
- Rechargeability: Your battery will remain charged throughout the day after charging while you sleep at night. Basically, you can charge your hearing aids the same way you charge your cellphone. And when you travel with your hearing aids, it becomes really hassle free.
- Automatic programming: Contemporary hearing aids can automatically adjust to new environments or times of day, depending on how they’re programmed. This makes them simpler to use and more reliable.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can begin to appreciate all types of features by connecting your hearing aid to your smartphone. Depending on the particular hearing situation, you will be able to manage the settings on your hearing aids using an app you can download on most smartphones.
We can help you discover how your specific hearing needs can be met by your hearing aids (for example, you can ask whether you can use them while you’re going for a swim or hiking in the country, that sort of thing). Hearing aids and water-sports don’t always play nice together. 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 plan. For example, you should ask, can hot weather affect my hearing aids? And you should also ask, how do I safeguard my hearing aids from moisture in the air? The answer to both questions will depend on the model of hearing aid you have.
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 steer clear of them. These are sounds that are, well, loud! And everybody’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 a lot of fun to go and see a live music concert but the loud volume can be harmful to your ears. This means you may want to be particular about which shows you see (rather than going to a festival every weekend).
- Fireworks: The dogs are on to something. Your hearing can definitely be damaged by fireworks. Similarly, being close to home-launched fireworks can also be damaging to your ears (and limbs). Best to simply stay away from fireworks completely.
- Boat engines: Be careful of how close you get and how long you spend around these engines because they’re really loud. When you’re fishing, turn the engine off. Or, better yet, put in some earplugs for the entirety of your boat trip.
This list is not exhaustive. For people who are coping with hearing loss, summer may have a few less of these loud events.
Having said that, you may not be capable of, or even want to, stay away from all loud noises during the summer. So what can you do? Well, you can use ear protection. For example, before you go to a live show, put in a pair of earplugs so you can minimize most of the damage. But it’s essential that the hearing protection you chooses is reliable.
Have fun this summer and enjoy the sounds
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 make sure you get the most from your summer. We can help figure out the state of your hearing and, if necessary, help decide what type of hearing aid will best suit your needs.
So if you want to appreciate the dawn chorus, that’s where you need to start. Because birdsongs are just the beginning of those incredible summer sounds.
Get your hearing tuned up this summer. Call us for a hearing exam and discover if hearing aids are the right option for you.
