Have you ever slept with your bedroom window open and awoke to the beautiful sound of birds singing as the sun is coming up? Turns out, there’s a term for all those birdsongs: the dawn chorus. Birds see the sunrise and, for some reason, decide it’s time to belt out their best melody. Each species has its own kind of song, and together, they sound like a symphony of nature.
But you may not notice the “dawn chorus” at all if you have neglected hearing loss. And that’s sad.
That’s especially true because it’s not just birdsong you may be missing out on. Summer is full of incredible sounds. And you might be missing those summer sounds because you have hearing loss that’s gone undiagnosed or simply ignored. But you can begin to enjoy all of those wonderful summer sounds again with the help of a device like a hearing aid.
Summer sounds
When you think about summer, you probably start off visualizing the sun in a blue sky. And, a really, really hot sun (whew). But if you stay in your imagination a bit longer, you’ll start incorporating highlights that make this blue sky seem more like summer, the sounds that fill out the day. Some sounds you may think about:
- Something as simple as your grandkids laughing, possibly as they run about the yard or as you catch a baseball game together.
- The buzzing of bees as they fly around pollinating flowers and helping nature bloom.
- The sound of birds performing mating songs. (Humans aren’t the only species to employ love songs.)
- The babbling of a brook or the crashing of waves.
- Peepers and crickets chirping a symphony as the sun goes down.
You get the point. Summer is lively with wonderful sounds. The experience and vibe of summer are significantly enhanced by these sounds. And these sounds in and of themselves bring great joy.
It’s possible that hearing loss might have crept up on you, particularly if these or any other summer sounds sound to be foreign to you these days. If you have noticed 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 all about for most. Communication is key. You’ll be more aware of what’s taking place around you, better able to communicate with those around you, and appreciate the sounds in your world. And that’s especially significant at those summer barbecues, for instance.
Contemporary hearing aids have some amazing technology that will help you savor those summer sounds. For example, most modern hearing aids offer:
- 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 makes them easier to use and more reliable.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can sync your hearing aids to your cellphone 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 using an app you can download on most smartphones.
- Machine learning: Fancy algorithms (called machine learning) can help your hearing aids adapt to what you need, even before you need it. In loud settings or when eliminating specific sounds, this can be especially convenient.
- Rechargeability: Your battery will remain charged all day after charging while you sleep at night. Essentially, you can charge your hearing aids the same way you charge your cellphone. And when you travel with your hearing aids, it becomes especially stress free.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Perhaps you want some tunes while you’re out boating. Well, your hearing aids can be connected to the boat’s stereo via Bluetooth.
- Noise reduction: If you want to hear the crashing of the waves, but not the roar of traffic behind you, you’ll want hearing aids that can help you sort out these sounds (just like your ears once did). Noise reduction features are common in modern hearing aids so you will be able to dial in the sounds you want to hear.
You can ask us about how your pair of hearing aids are suitable for your favorite adventures (for instance, you can ask whether you can use them while you’re swimming or hiking in the country, that kind of thing). Hearing aids and water-sports don’t always play nice together. But you will have a richer 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? Also, does humidity have any effect on my hearing aid and how can I safeguard it? Depending on the model of hearing aid, the answer to these questions will vary.
Some loud sounds you may want to steer clear of
As much as you love the sound of the dawn chorus, there are a few other summer sounds that could actually be damaging to your hearing, so you’ll probably want to steer clear of them. These noisy sounds are a real hazard! And everyone’s ears are at risk even if they don’t have pre-existing hearing loss. Here are a few of those sounds:
- Boat engines: These engines are loud, so exercise some caution about distance and exposure time. Try not to keep the motor idling when you’re fishing. Or, better yet, put in some earplugs for the entirety of your boat trip.
- Fireworks: The dogs are on to something. Your hearing can definitely be harmed by fireworks. Similarly, being close to home-launched fireworks can also be damaging to your hearing (and limbs). Best to just stay away from fireworks altogether.
- Live music: Outdoor concerts are a big part of summer, but they can be harmful to your ears. So you may want to exercise some caution and be picky about which shows you attend and wear earplugs.
This is only a partial list. Summer fun for people with hearing loss might not include quite as many of those fireworks and loud noise situations.
But even with hearing loss you probably won’t want to stay away from every noisy summer event. So what’s the solution? Well, you can use ear protection. For instance, before you go to a live show, put in a pair of earplugs so you can minimize a lot of the damage. You just need to make certain you’re using effective ear protection.
Have fun this summer and enjoy the sounds
If you have hearing loss, the sounds of summer could feel like they’re growing further and further away (even as the heat of summer gets more and more oppressive). And that means you could miss a lot of the season’s joy.
So you may 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 figure out whether your hearing is waning 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 begin. Because birdsongs are just the beginning of those incredible summer sounds.
Get the most from your ears this summer and beyond. Call us for a hearing assessment and discover if hearing aids are the right option for you.