Have you ever slept with your bedroom window open and awoke to the beautiful sound of birds singing as the sun is coming up? Most people probably aren’t even aware that the name for those bird-songs is the “dawn chorus”. For whatever reason, birds see the sun coming up and decide to start singing their favorite songs. Each species has its own kind of song, and together, they sound like a symphony of nature.
Of course, if you have neglected hearing loss, you might not hear the dawn chorus at all. And that’s sad.
There are lots of amazing sounds during the summer besides birdsongs that you might be missing. And if you find yourself oblivious to the sounds of summer, it might be because of some undiagnosed (or diagnosed and neglected) hearing loss. But you can begin to enjoy all of those amazing summer sounds again with the help of a device like a hearing aid.
The sounds of summer
When you think about summer, you most likely begin by visualizing the sun in a blue sky. And, a very, very hot sun (whew). But if you stay in your imagination a bit longer, you’ll begin adding details that make this blue sky feel more like summer, the sounds that fill in the day. You might be thinking about:
- Peepers and crickets chirping a symphony as the sun goes down.
- The sound of birds performing mating songs. (Love songs aren’t just enjoyed by humans.)
- Bees buzzing about helping nature bloom by pollinating flowers.
- The babbling of a stream or the crashing of waves.
- Something as basic as your grandchildren laughing, maybe as they run about the yard or as you watch a baseball game with each other.
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 create that overall vibe. Plus, there is so much pleasure in these everyday summertime sounds themselves.
If these summer sounds (or any sounds of summer) seem different to you these days, it’s likely because a noticeable amount of hearing loss has effectively crept up on you. Once you’ve noticed that problem, the next step is to do something about 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 converse with others, to hear what’s going on around you, and to enjoy the sounds that you hear. And at those summer barbecues, for instance, that’s even more important.
The latest models of hearing aids can help you bask in the sounds of summer, and they are equipped with some really great built in tech, as well. Here are some examples of some of that powerful technology:
- 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 enjoy full batteries throughout the day. It’s much like charging your phone. And when you vacation with your hearing aids, it becomes very stress free.
- Automatic programming: Modern hearing aids can automatically adjust to new surroundings or times of day, depending on how you program them. This makes them simpler to use and more reliable.
- Noise reduction: If you want to hear the crashing of the waves, but not the roar of traffic behind you, you’ll want hearing aids that can help you sort out these sounds (just like your ears used to do). Modern hearing aids have considerable noise reduction features, so you can hear what you actually want to hear.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can begin to enjoy all kinds of features by syncing your hearing aid to your cellphone. Depending on the specific hearing situation, you will be able to control the settings on your hearing aids by utilizing an app you can download on most cell phones.
- Machine learning: Your hearing aid can utilize “machine learning”, which are advanced intelligent algorithms, to adjust to your audio landscape before you even recognized it needed to. In loud settings or when filtering out specific sounds, this can be especially convenient.
You can ask us about how your pair of hearing aids are suited to your favorite adventures (you can ask us if 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 deeper overall summer experience with your hearing aids.
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 example? And you should also ask, how do I protect my hearing aids from moisture in the air? Depending on the model of hearing aid, the answer to these questions will differ.
Maybe stay away from these sounds
Some summer sounds, unlike the dawn chorus, will be harmful to your ears and you should make sure to avoid them. These are sounds that are, well, noisy! And everybody’s ears are vulnerable even if they don’t have pre-existing hearing loss. Some of those sounds include:
- Live music: Outdoor concerts are a big part of summer, but they can be harmful to your ears. This means you may want to be particular about which shows you see (rather than attending a festival every weekend).
- Fireworks: Dogs have the right idea. Your hearing can definitely be damaged by fireworks. Likewise, being close to home-launched fireworks can also be harmful to your hearing (and limbs). It’s best for your hearing to keep away from fireworks entirely.
- Boat engines: These engines are loud, so exercise some caution about distance and duration. Try not to leave the motor idling when you’re fishing. Or, an even better idea would be to put in some earplugs.
This list is not exhaustive. For people who are coping with hearing loss, summer may have a few less of these loud events.
But even with hearing loss you most likely won’t want to stay away from every noisy summer activity. So what’s the solution? Well, you can use ear protection. For instance, 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 sure you’re using reliable ear protection.
Enjoy the sounds of summer
If you are dealing with hearing loss, the sounds of summer might feel like they’re growing further and further away (even as the heat of summer gets more and more oppressive). Which means, a lot of the joy of the season could pass you by.
So you might need to come in and see us if you want to make sure you get the most from your summer. We can help determine the state of your hearing and, if necessary, help decide what kind of hearing aid will best suit your needs.
So begin here if you’re ready to enjoy the dawn chorus. Because birdsongs are just the beginning of those incredible summer sounds.
Get a hearing tune-up this summer. Make an appointment today to find out which hearing aids are right for you!
