Have you ever awoke after a night’s sleep and heard birds singing a beautiful song through your open window? Most individuals probably aren’t even aware that those bird songs are called the “dawn chorus”. For whatever reason, birds see the sun coming up and choose to start singing their favorite songs. 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.
That’s especially true because it’s not just birdsong you might be missing out on. Summer is full of incredible sounds. And if you find yourself missing out on the sounds of summer, it could be because of some undiagnosed (or diagnosed and dismissed) hearing loss. The good news in these instances is that a device like a hearing aid may help you appreciate and more fully enjoy your summer.
The sounds of summer
You probably think of a very hot sun in a clear blue sky when you think of summer. And then you begin to imagine the summer soundtrack that goes along with this vision. You might be thinking about:
- The sound of birds chirping, especially in the spring during, ahem, mating season. (Love songs are not just appreciated by humans.)
- The babbling of a stream or the crashing of waves.
- Something as basic as your grandchildren laughing, perhaps as they run around the yard or as you watch a baseball game together.
- The symphony of frogs croaking at night, particularly in the early hours of the evening.
- The buzzing of bees as they fly around pollinating flowers and helping the landscape bloom.
You get the point. There are lots of sounds happening. These are the sounds that fill in your summer, give it texture, and help establish that overall vibe. And these sounds in and of themselves bring great joy.
If these sounds of summer (or any summer sounds) seem different to you these days, it’s probably because an apparent amount of hearing loss has successfully snuck up on you. Once you’ve noticed that problem, the next step is to take action.
Hearing aids can help you enjoy summer
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 relevant.
The latest models of hearing aids can help you savor the sounds of summer, and they come with some really great built in tech, as well. For example, most contemporary hearing aids offer:
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Out on the boat and want to listen to some music? Well, your hearing aids can be synced to the boat’s stereo via Bluetooth.
- Rechargeability: You can recharge your hearing aid while sleeping and enjoy full batteries throughout the day. Basically, you can charge your hearing aids in the same way you charge your cellphone. And when you travel with your hearing aids, it becomes very hassle free.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can begin to appreciate all types of features by syncing your hearing aid to your cellphone. Depending on the particular hearing situation, you will be able to manage the settings on your hearing aids by utilizing an app you can download on most cell phones.
- Noise reduction: You’ll want to have hearing aids that can sort through particular sounds (your ears once did this) so you can enjoy those crashing waves without having the traffic behind you amplified too. Noise reduction features are common in modern hearing aids so you will be capable of dialing in the sounds you want to hear.
- Machine learning: Your hearing aid can use “machine learning”, which are sophisticated intelligent algorithms, to adjust to your audio landscape before you even recognized it needed to. This is especially convenient when filtering sounds or in a loud environment.
- Automatic programming: You can program your modern hearing aids to automatically adjust settings depending on the time of day or environment you find yourself in. This makes them easier to use and more reliable.
You can ask us about how your pair of hearing aids are appropriate for your favorite activities (you can ask us whether you can bring your hearing aids into the water or on a mountain hike for instance). Hearing aids usually don’t play well with water. But in general, your hearing aids will make your summer an all around livelier experience.
You’ll also want to ask us some standard questions about your hearing aid models. For example, you should ask, can hot weather impact my hearing aids? And you should also ask, how can I safeguard my hearing aids from moisture in the air? The answer to both questions will depend on the model of hearing aid you use.
Maybe stay away from these sounds
Some summer sounds, unlike the dawn chorus, will be harmful to your hearing and you should be certain to avoid them. These noisy sounds are a real hazard! And they’re damaging to everyone’s ears, not just those who have pre-existing hearing loss. Here are a few of those sounds:
- Fireworks: The dogs are on to something. Attending fireworks shows can definitely harm your ears. Likewise, being near home-launched fireworks can also be damaging to your hearing (and limbs). It’s best for your hearing to keep away from fireworks completely.
- Boat engines: Be cautious of how close you get and how long you spend around these engines because they’re really loud. When you’re fishing, shut the engine off. Or, even better, pop in some earplugs for the duration of your boat trip.
- Live music: Outdoor concerts are a fun part of summer, but they can be damaging to your hearing. So you might want to use some caution and be selective about which concerts you attend and use earplugs.
This is only a partial list. Summer fun for people with hearing loss may not include quite as many of those fireworks and loud noise conditions.
But even with hearing loss you most likely won’t want to avoid every loud summer event. So what’s the strategy? Using ear protection is the best option. Popping in a set of earplugs before you go to any live music show can mitigate a lot of the damage, for example. You just need to make sure you’re using reliable ear protection.
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, much of the joy of the season could pass you by.
Getting the most from your summer then, might require coming to see us. We can help determine the state of your hearing and, if needed, help decide what type of hearing loss will be the best choice for you.
So begin here if you’re ready to appreciate the dawn chorus. Because birdsongs are just the beginning of those incredible summer sounds.
Get the most from your ears this summer and beyond. Call us for a hearing test and find out if hearing aids are the right choice for you.
