Have you ever awoke after a night’s sleep and heard birds singing a pleasant song through your open window? Most people probably don’t even know that those bird songs are called the “dawn chorus”. For whatever reason, birds see the sun rising and decide to start belting out 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 neglected hearing loss, you may not hear the dawn chorus at all. Which is a shame.
That’s especially true because it’s not just birdsong you might be missing out on. Summer is full of awesome sounds. And if you find yourself oblivious to the sounds of summer, it may be the result of some undiagnosed (or diagnosed and dismissed) hearing loss. But you can start to enjoy all of those wonderful summer sounds again with the help of a device like a hearing aid.
Summer sounds
You likely think of a really 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 might think about:
- Something as basic as your grandchildren laughing, maybe as they run around the yard or as you catch a baseball game together.
- Bees buzzing about helping nature bloom by pollinating flowers.
- The babbling of a creek or the crashing of waves.
- The sound of frogs croaking at night, particularly in the early hours of the evening.
- The sound of birds chirping, particularly in the spring during, ahem, mating season. (Humans aren’t the only species to utilize love songs.)
These are just a few examples. Summer is alive with amazing sounds. These are the sounds that fill in your summer, give it quality, and help deliver that overall vibe. Plus, there is so much happiness in these everyday summertime sounds themselves.
If these sounds of summer (or any summer sounds) seem foreign to you these days, it’s probably because an apparent amount of hearing loss has successfully snuck up on you. Once you’ve noticed that issue, the next step is to take action.
Your summer can be more enjoyable with hearing aids
For most, hearing aids are really about building relationships. Communication is key. You’ll be more mindful of what’s happening around you, better able to communicate with people around you, and appreciate the sounds in your world. And at those summer cook-outs, for instance, that’s even more relevant.
Modern hearing aids have some incredible technology that will help you bask in those summer sounds. Here are some examples of some of that powerful technology:
- 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 once did). Noise reduction features are normal in modern hearing aids so you will be able to dial in the sounds you want to hear.
- Rechargeability: Your battery will remain charged all day after charging when you are sleeping at night. It’s a lot like charging your cellphone. And when you travel with your hearing aids, it becomes especially hassle free.
- 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. This is especially handy when filtering sounds or in a loud setting.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Boating on the lake and want to listen to some music? Just connect the boat’s radio to your hearing aids using Bluetooth.
- Automatic programming: You can program your modern hearing aids to automatically adjust settings depending on the time of day or setting you find yourself in. This makes them simpler to use and more reliable.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can sync your hearing aids to your smartphone and begin enjoying all kinds of features. Depending on the particular 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 particular hearing needs can be met by your hearing aids (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.
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 example? And you should also ask, how do I safeguard my hearing aids from moisture in the air? Depending on the model of hearing aid, the answer to these questions will differ.
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 harmful to your hearing, so you’ll probably want to avoid them. These loud sounds are a real hazard! And everybody’s ears are vulnerable even if they don’t have pre-existing hearing loss. Here are a few of those sounds:
- Boat engines: Be cautious of how close you get and how long you spend near these engines because they are really loud. When you’re fishing, turn the engine off. Or, better yet, pop in some earplugs for the entirety of your boat trip.
- Live music: Outdoor concerts are a fun 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 going to a festival every weekend).
- Fireworks: The dogs are on to something. Attending fireworks shows can certainly harm your ears. This goes for both commercial and home launched fireworks. It’s best for your hearing to keep away from fireworks entirely.
This is only a partial list. For individuals who are coping with hearing loss, summer might have a few less of these noisy activities.
But even with hearing loss you most likely won’t want to stay away from every loud summer event. So what can you do? Using ear protection is the best solution. For instance, before you go to a concert, put in a pair of earplugs so you can minimize most of the damage. You just need to make sure you’re using effective ear protection.
Have fun this summer and enjoy the sounds
As the heat of summer gets more oppressive, if you are dealing with hearing loss, the summer sounds may 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 pay us a visit if you want to be certain that you get the most from your summer. We can help identify the state of your hearing and, if needed, help decide what type of hearing aid will best suit your needs.
So if you want to appreciate the dawn chorus, that’s where you need to begin. Because birdsongs are just the beginning of those incredible 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.