Have you ever slept with your bedroom window open and awoke to the beautiful sound of birds singing just as the sun comes up? Most individuals probably don’t even know that those bird songs are called the “dawn chorus”. For whatever reason, birds see the sun rising and choose to start belting out their favorite songs. Each species has its own set of chirps and notes, 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. Which is a pity.
There are lots of amazing sounds during the summer besides birdsongs that you might be missing. And you might be missing those summer sounds because you have hearing loss that’s gone undiagnosed or simply dismissed. But you can start to enjoy all of those amazing summer sounds again with the help of a device like a hearing aid.
Summer sounds
You probably think of a really hot sun in a clear blue sky when you think of summer. But if you stay in your imagination a little longer, you’ll start adding highlights that make this blue sky seem more like summer, the sounds that fill out the day. Some sounds you may think about:
- The buzzing of bees as they fly around pollinating flowers and helping the landscape bloom.
- The crashing of waves on the beach (or a babbling brook if you’re in a more inland area).
- The symphony of frogs croaking at night, especially in the early hours of the night.
- Something as basic as your grandchildren laughing, maybe as they run around the yard or as you catch a baseball game together.
- The sound of birds singing out mating songs. (Humans aren’t the only species to employ love songs.)
These are only a few examples. There are a bunch of sounds going on. These are the sounds that fill in your summer, give it quality, and help create that overall vibe. Plus, there is so much joy in these everyday summertime sounds themselves.
It’s possible that hearing loss may have snuck up on you, particularly if these or any other summer sounds sound to be different to you these days. If you have noticed your hearing loss then you should get some help with it.
Your summer can be more enjoyable with hearing aids
For most, hearing aids are really about strengthening relationships. Communication is key. They make it easier to converse with others, to hear what’s going on around you, and to enjoy the sounds that you hear. And that’s particularly significant at those summer barbecues, for instance.
The latest models of hearing aids can help you bask in the sounds of summer, and they come with some pretty great built in tech, too. For instance, most modern hearing aids offer:
- Automatic programming: You can program your modern hearing aids to automatically change settings depending on the time of day or environment you find yourself in. This feature makes them more reliable and simpler to use.
- Machine learning: Your hearing aid can use “machine learning”, which are advanced intelligent algorithms, to adjust to your audio landscape before you even knew it needed to. This is particularly convenient when filtering sounds or in a loud setting.
- Noise reduction: If you want to hear the crashing of the 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). Noise reduction features are normal in modern hearing aids so you will be capable of dialing in the sounds you want to hear.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Boating on the lake and want to enjoy some tunes? Well, your hearing aids can be connected to the boat’s stereo using Bluetooth.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can start to appreciate 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.
- Rechargeability: You can recharge your hearing aid while you sleep and get full batteries all through the day. It’s a lot like charging your cellphone. This also makes traveling with hearing aids much easier.
You can ask us about how your pair 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 frequently don’t play well with water. But as a whole, your hearing aids will make your summer an all around richer experience.
Also, asking us basic questions about your hearing aid model will be a practical plan. Will your hearing aids have an issue with hot weather, for instance? Also, does humidity have any impact on my hearing aid and how can I protect 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 love the sound of the dawn chorus, there are a few 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 they’re harmful to everyone’s ears, not just individuals with pre-existing hearing loss. Some of those sounds include:
- Boat engines: Be cautious of how close you get and how long you spend near these engines because they are very loud. Try not to leave the motor running when you’re fishing. Or, better yet, put in some earplugs for the duration of your boat trip.
- Fireworks: The dogs are on to something. Your hearing can definitely be harmed by fireworks. Likewise, being close to home-launched fireworks can also be harmful to your hearing (and limbs). Best to simply avoid fireworks altogether.
- Live music: Outdoor concerts are a fun part of summer, but they can be damaging to your hearing. So you may want to use some caution and be picky about which concerts you attend and use earplugs.
This is only a partial list. For individuals who are coping with hearing loss, summer might have a few less of these noisy events.
That said, you may not be capable of, or even want to, stay away from all loud noises during the summer. So what’s the strategy? Using ear protection is the best solution. Putting in a set of earplugs before you go to any live music show can mitigate a lot of the damage, for example. But it’s essential that the hearing protection you chooses is reliable.
Enjoy the sounds of summer
If you have hearing loss, the sounds of summer might 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.
Getting the most from your summer then, might require coming to see us. We will be able to determine whether your hearing is failing or not, and what kind of hearing aid will be best for your situation.
So begin here if you’re ready to appreciate the dawn chorus. Because birdsongs are just the beginning of those awesome summer sounds.
Get your hearing tuned up this summer. Call us for a hearing assessment and discover if hearing aids are the right option for you.
