Have you ever awoke after a night’s sleep and heard birds singing a beautiful song through your open window? Turns out, there’s a name for all those birdsongs: the dawn chorus. For whatever reason, birds see the sun rising and decide to start singing 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 untreated hearing loss, you might not hear the dawn chorus at all. And that’s sad.
That’s particularly true because it isn’t just birdsong you might be missing out on. Summer is full of amazing sounds. And you might be missing those summer sounds because you have hearing loss that’s gone undiagnosed or simply ignored. 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 really hot sun in a clear blue sky when you think about summer. And then you start to imagine the summer soundtrack that goes along with this vision. You may be thinking about:
- The babbling of a creek or the crashing of waves.
- 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 evening.
- The sound of birds singing, especially in the spring during, ahem, mating season. (Humans aren’t the only species to employ love songs.)
- The sound of your grandkids playing and laughing.
You get the point. Summer is alive with amazing sounds. The experience and vibe of summer are considerably enhanced by these sounds. Plus, there is so much joy in these everyday summertime sounds themselves.
It’s possible that hearing loss may have crept up on you, particularly if these or any other summer sounds sound to be different to you these days. If you have recognized your hearing loss then you need to get some help with it.
Hearing aids can help you enjoy summer
Building connections is what hearing aids are really about for most. Communication is key. You’ll be more mindful of what’s taking place around you, better able to communicate with people around you, and enjoy the sounds in your life. And at those summer barbecues, for example, that’s even more relevant.
The newest models of hearing aids can help you bask in the sounds of summer, and they come with some pretty amazing built in tech, too. Here are some examples of some of that potent technology:
- Automatic programming: You can program your modern hearing aids to automatically switch settings depending on the time of day or setting you find yourself in. This function makes them more effective and simpler to use.
- Machine learning: Fancy algorithms (called machine learning) can help your hearing aids adapt to what you need, even before you know you need it. This is particularly handy when filtering sounds or in a loud setting.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can begin to enjoy all kinds of features by connecting your hearing aid to your cellphone. Depending on the particular hearing situation, you will be able to control the settings on your hearing aids using an app you can download on most cell phones.
- 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 (just like your ears used to do). Modern hearing aids have significant noise reduction features, so you can hear what you actually want to hear.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Out on the boat and want to listen to some tunes? Well, your hearing aids can be synced to the boat’s stereo via Bluetooth.
- Rechargeability: Your battery will remain charged throughout the day after charging while you sleep at night. It’s a lot like charging your phone. This also makes traveling with hearing aids much easier.
You can ask us about how your set of hearing aids are suited to your favorite activities (you can ask us if you can bring your hearing aids into the water or on a mountain hike for example). Hearing aids and water-sports don’t always get along. But you will have a deeper overall summer experience with your hearing aids.
You’ll also want to ask us some basic questions about your hearing aid models. For instance, you should ask, can hot weather impact my hearing aids? And you should also ask, how do I safeguard my hearing aids from humidity? The answer to both 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 make sure to steer clear of them. These loud sounds are a real hazard! 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 great fun to go and see a live music concert but the loud volume can be damaging to your ears. This means you might want to be particular about which shows you see (rather than attending a festival every weekend).
- Fireworks: Dogs have the right idea. Attending fireworks shows can undoubtedly harm your hearing. This goes for both commercial and home launched fireworks. It’s best for your hearing to stay away from fireworks entirely.
- Boat engines: Be careful of how close you get and how long you spend near these engines because they’re really loud. Try not to keep the motor idling when you’re fishing. Or, an even better plan would be to use some earplugs.
This list isn’t exhaustive. Summer activities for people who have hearing loss may not include quite as many of those fireworks and loud noise situations.
That said, you may not be capable of, or even want to, avoid all loud noises over the summer. So what can you do? 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.
Appreciate the sounds of summer
As the heat of summer gets more oppressive, if you are dealing with hearing loss, the summer sounds might feel like they’re getting further away. Which means, a lot of the joy of the season could get lost.
So you might need to come in and see us if you want to be certain that you get the most out of your summer. We will be able to identify whether your hearing is failing or not, and what kind of hearing aid will best suit your needs.
So start here if you’re ready to appreciate the dawn chorus. And you’ll also be able to enjoy all of the other awesome summer sounds.
Get your hearing tuned up this summer. Call us for a hearing assessment and find out if hearing aids are the right option for you.
