Have you ever woken up after a night’s sleep and heard birds singing a beautiful song through your open window? Most individuals probably don’t even know that those bird songs are called the “dawn chorus”. Birds see the sunrise and, for some reason, decide it’s time to sing out their best melody. The songs of these birds, when they’re all sounding together, are a lovely symphony.
But you might not hear the “dawn chorus” at all if you have untreated hearing loss. And that’s unfortunate.
There are a lot of amazing sounds during the summer besides birdsongs that you may be missing. And you may be missing those summer sounds because you have hearing loss that’s gone undiagnosed or simply neglected. The good news in these cases is that a device like a hearing aid may help you appreciate and enjoy your summer days more fully.
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. Some sounds you may think about:
- The sound of frogs croaking at night, especially in the early hours of the night.
- The sound of your grandchildren laughing and playing.
- The crashing of waves on the beach (or a babbling brook if you’re in a more landlocked area).
- The sound of birds performing mating songs. (Love songs aren’t just enjoyed by humans.)
- The buzzing of bees as they fly around pollinating flowers and helping the landscape bloom.
You get the idea. There are a bunch of sounds happening. These are the sounds that fill in your summer, give it texture, and help deliver that overall vibe. And these sounds by themselves bring great joy.
It’s feasible that hearing loss may have crept up on you, especially if these or any other summer sounds sound 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, 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 appreciate the sounds in your world. And that’s particularly important at those summer barbecues, for instance.
Modern hearing aids have some incredible technology that will help you savor those summer sounds. Here are some illustrations of some of that powerful technology:
- Machine learning: Your hearing aid can use “machine learning”, which are advanced intelligent algorithms, to adjust to your audio landscape before you even recognized it needed to. This is particularly handy when filtering sounds or in a noisy setting.
- Automatic programming: Contemporary hearing aids can automatically adjust to new settings or times of day, depending on how you program them. This makes them easier to use and more reliable.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can sync your hearing aids to your cellphone and begin making the most of all kinds of features. Many cell phones will now permit you to download apps that help you manage 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.
- Noise reduction: If you want to hear the sound of crashing waves, but not the thunder of traffic behind you, you’ll want hearing aids that can help you sort through these sounds (in the same way your ears once did). Modern hearing aids have considerable noise reduction capabilities, so you can hear what you really want to hear.
- Rechargeability: You can recharge your hearing aid while you sleep and enjoy full batteries all through the day. It’s a lot like charging your phone. This also makes traveling with hearing aids a lot easier.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Maybe you want some tunes while you’re out on the boat. Just sync the boat’s radio to your hearing aids using Bluetooth.
We can help you discover how your specific hearing needs can be met by your hearing aids (you can ask us whether 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 practical idea. Will your hearing aids have a problem with hot weather, for example? Also, does humidity have any effect on my hearing aid and how can I safeguard it? The answer to both will depend on the model of hearing aid you use.
Some loud sounds you may want to avoid
As much as you enjoy 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 they’re damaging to everyone’s ears, not just those with pre-existing hearing loss. Some of those sounds include:
- Fireworks: The dogs are on to something. Your hearing can most certainly be damaged by fireworks. This goes for both commercial and home launched fireworks. Best to just stay away from fireworks altogether.
- Live music: It’s a lot of fun to attend a live music concert but the loud volume can be harmful to your ears. This means you may want to be selective about which shows you see (rather than attending a festival every weekend).
- Boat engines: These engines are loud, so use some caution about distance and exposure time. When you’re fishing, shut the engine off. Or, an even better idea would be to put in some earplugs.
This list isn’t exhaustive. For individuals who are coping with hearing loss, summer might have a few less of these noisy events.
But even with hearing loss you most likely won’t want to avoid every noisy summer activity. So what’s the solution? Wearing ear protection is the best solution. For example, before you go to a live show, put in a set of earplugs so you can decrease a lot of the damage. 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 might seem 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, may mean making a pit stop with us. We can help identify the state of your hearing and, if needed, help determine what kind of hearing aids will best suit your needs.
So start here if you’re ready to enjoy the dawn chorus. Because birdsongs are only the beginning of those amazing summer sounds.
Get the most out of your ears this summer and beyond. Call us for a hearing assessment and discover if hearing aids are the right choice for you.