Have you ever slept with the window in your bedroom open and woken up to the beautiful sound of birds singing as the sun is coming up? So happens, there’s a term 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 sounding together, are a beautiful symphony.
Of course, if you have untreated hearing loss, you might not hear the dawn chorus at all. Which is a shame.
There are lots of amazing sounds during the summer besides birdsongs that you could be missing. And if you find yourself missing out on the sounds of summer, it may be because of some undiagnosed (or diagnosed and ignored) hearing loss. The good news in these situations is that a device like a hearing aid may help you appreciate and enjoy your summer days more fully.
Summer sounds
When you think about summer, you likely start off imagining the sun in a blue sky. And, a very, very hot sun (whew). But if you stick with your imagination a little longer, you’ll start adding highlights that make this blue sky feel more like summer, the sounds that fill out the day. You might be thinking about:
- The symphony of frogs croaking at night, especially in the early hours of the evening.
- The sound of your grandchildren playing and laughing.
- The sound of birds performing mating songs. (Humans aren’t the only species to employ love songs.)
- The buzzing of bees as they fly around pollinating flowers and helping the landscape bloom.
- The babbling of a brook or the crashing of waves.
You get the point. Summer is alive with wonderful sounds. These are the sounds that complete your summer, give it texture, and help establish that overall vibe. And these sounds in and of themselves bring great happiness.
If these sounds of summer (or any summer sounds) seem different to you these days, it’s most likely because an apparent amount of hearing loss has successfully crept up on you. If you have recognized your hearing loss then you need to get something done about it.
Hearing aids can help you enjoy summer
For most, hearing aids are really about creating relationships. They’re about communication. You’ll be more mindful of what’s happening around you, better able to communicate with people around you, and enjoy the sounds in your world. And at those summer cook-outs, for instance, that’s even more important.
The newest models of hearing aids can help you savor the sounds of summer, and they are equipped with some rather great built in tech, too. Here are some illustrations of some of that powerful technology:
- Noise reduction: You’ll want to have hearing aids that can differentiate particular sounds (your ears used to do this) so you can appreciate those crashing waves without having the traffic behind you amplified too. Modern hearing aids have significant noise reduction features, so you can hear what you actually want to hear.
- Automatic programming: Modern hearing aids can automatically adapt to new environments or times of day, depending on how you program them. This feature makes them more effective and simpler to use.
- Rechargeability: You can recharge your hearing aid while you sleep and get full batteries throughout the day. Essentially, 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.
- Machine learning: Fancy algorithms (called machine learning) can help your hearing aids adapt to what you need, even before you need it. This is especially handy when filtering sounds or in a loud setting.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Maybe you want some music playing while you’re out boating. Well, your hearing aids can be synced to the boat’s stereo using Bluetooth.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can sync your hearing aids to your cellphone and start making the most of all sorts of features. 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.
We can help you discover how your specific hearing needs can be met by your hearing aids (you can ask us whether you can bring your hearing aids into the water or on a mountain hike for instance). Hearing aids often don’t get along with water. But all in all, your hearing aids will make your summer an all around livelier experience.
You’ll also want to ask us some basic questions about your hearing aid models. For instance, you should ask, can hot weather affect my hearing aids? And you should also ask, how do I safeguard my hearing aids from moisture in the air? The answer to both will depend on the model of hearing aid you have.
Maybe avoid these sounds
As much as you love the sound of the dawn chorus, there are some other summer sounds that could actually be harmful to your hearing, so you’ll probably want to avoid them. These are sounds that are, well, loud! And everyone’s ears are at risk even if they don’t have pre-existing hearing loss. Some of those sounds include:
- Live music: Outdoor concerts are a fun part of summer, but they can be harmful to your ears. This means you might want to be selective about which shows you see (rather than attending a festival every weekend).
- Fireworks: Dogs have the right idea. Your hearing can most certainly 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 use some caution about proximity and duration. Try not to keep the motor idling when you’re fishing. Or, better yet, put in some earplugs for the duration of your boat trip.
This list is not exhaustive. For people who are dealing with hearing loss, summer may have a few less of these loud activities.
But even with hearing loss you most likely won’t want to stay away from every loud summer activity. So what can you do? Wearing ear protection is the best solution. For instance, before you go to a concert, put in a set of earplugs so you can minimize most of the damage. You just need to make sure you’re using reliable ear protection.
Enjoy the sounds of summer
As the heat of summer becomes more oppressive, if you are dealing with hearing loss, the summer sounds may seem like they’re getting further away. And that means you could miss a lot of the season’s joy.
Getting the most out of your summer then, might mean coming to see us. We can help determine the state of your hearing and, if necessary, help decide what type of hearing aids will best suit your needs.
So begin here if you’re ready to enjoy the dawn chorus. Because birdsongs are only the beginning of those awesome summer sounds.
Get the most out of your ears this summer and beyond. Call us for a hearing test and find out if hearing aids are the right option for you.