Have you ever woken up after a night’s sleep and heard birds singing a pleasant song through your open window? So happens, there’s a name for all those birdsongs: the dawn chorus. Birds see the sunrise and, for some reason, decide it’s time to sing out their favorite melody. The songs of these birds, when they’re all singing together, are a lovely symphony.
But you may not notice the “dawn chorus” at all if you have neglected hearing loss. And that’s unfortunate.
There are a lot of amazing sounds during the summer besides birdsongs that you could be missing. And you may be missing those summer sounds because you have hearing loss that’s gone undiagnosed or simply ignored. 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
When you think about summer, you probably begin by imagining the sun in a blue sky. And, a really, really hot sun (whew). And then you begin to visualize the summer soundtrack that goes along with this vision. You may be thinking about:
- Peepers and crickets chirping a symphony as the sun goes down.
- The sound of birds performing mating songs. (Love songs are not just appreciated by humans.)
- The babbling of a stream or the crashing of waves.
- The buzzing of bees as they fly around pollinating flowers and helping the landscape bloom.
- Something as basic as your grandchildren laughing, maybe as they run around the yard or as you watch a baseball game together.
You get the point. There are lots of sounds happening. These are the sounds that complete your summer, give it quality, and help establish that overall vibe. And these sounds in and of themselves bring great happiness.
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. 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 building connections. They’re about communication. You’ll be more mindful of what’s taking place around you, better able to communicate with those around you, and enjoy the sounds in your world. And that’s especially important at those summer barbecues, for instance.
Contemporary hearing aids have some fantastic technology that will help you savor those summer sounds. For example, most contemporary hearing aids offer:
- Automatic programming: You can dial in your modern hearing aids to automatically change settings depending on the time of day or setting you find yourself in. This feature makes them more reliable and easier to use.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Boating on the lake and want to enjoy some music? Just sync the boat’s radio to your hearing aids via Bluetooth.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can start to appreciate all kinds of features by connecting your hearing aid to your cellphone. Depending on the specific 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.
- Machine learning: Cutting-edge algorithms (called machine learning) can help your hearing aids adapt to what you need, even before you know you need it. This is particularly convenient when filtering sounds or in a noisy setting.
- Rechargeability: Your battery will remain charged all day after charging while you sleep at night. Basically, you can charge your hearing aids the same way you charge your cellphone. This also makes traveling with hearing aids a lot easier.
- Noise reduction: You’ll want to get hearing aids that can differentiate specific sounds (your ears once did this) so you can appreciate 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.
You can ask us about how your pair of hearing aids are suited to your favorite activities (for example, you can ask whether you can use them while you’re swimming or hiking up a mountain, that sort of thing). Hearing aids and water-sports don’t always play nice together. 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 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 vary.
Some loud sounds you may want to avoid
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, noisy! And they’re damaging to everyone’s ears, not just individuals with pre-existing hearing loss. Some of those sounds include:
- Live music: It’s great fun to go and see a live music concert but the loud volume can be damaging to your ears. So you might want to use some caution and be picky about which shows you attend and use earplugs.
- Fireworks: Dogs have the right idea. Going to fireworks shows can certainly harm your ears. This includes both commercial and home launched fireworks. It’s best for your hearing to stay away from fireworks completely.
- Boat engines: Be careful of how close you get and how long you spend around these engines because they are really loud. When you’re fishing, turn the engine off. Or, better yet, pop in some earplugs for the duration of your boat trip.
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 may not be able to, or even want to, avoid all loud noises over the summer. So what can you do? Using ear protection is the best strategy. For example, before you go to a live show, put in a set of earplugs so you can decrease most of the damage. But it’s important that the hearing protection you chooses is reliable.
Have fun this summer and enjoy the sounds
As the heat of summer becomes more oppressive, if you have hearing loss, the summer sounds may feel like they’re getting further away. Which means, much of the joy of the season could pass you by.
So you may need to come in and see us if you want to make sure you get the most from your summer. We will be able to figure out whether your hearing is failing or not, and what kind of hearing aid 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 wonderful summer sounds.
Get the most from your ears this summer and beyond. Schedule an appointment today to find out which hearing aids are right for you!
