Have you ever woken up after a night’s sleep and heard birds singing a beautiful song through your open window? Turns out, there’s a term for all those birdsongs: the dawn chorus. For whatever reason, birds see the sun rising and decide 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.
But you may not hear the “dawn chorus” at all if you have untreated hearing loss. Which is a pity.
There are lots of amazing sounds during the summer besides birdsongs that you may be missing. And you may 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 amazing summer sounds again with the help of a device like a hearing aid.
Summer sounds
When you think about summer, you most likely begin by visualizing the sun in a blue sky. And, a very, very hot sun (whew). But if you stay in your imagination a little longer, you’ll start adding details that make this blue sky feel more like summer, the sounds that fill out the day. You may be thinking about:
- Bees buzzing about helping nature bloom by pollinating flowers.
- The sound of birds performing mating songs. (Love songs aren’t just enjoyed by humans.)
- Peepers and crickets chirping a symphony as the sun goes down.
- The crashing of waves on the beach (or a babbling creek if you’re in a more inland area).
- The sound of your grandchildren laughing and playing.
You get the idea. Summer is alive with amazing sounds. These are the sounds that fill in your summer, give it quality, and help create that overall vibe. And these sounds in and of themselves bring great joy.
If these summer sounds (or any summer sounds) seem different to you these days, it’s most likely because a noticeable amount of hearing loss has successfully snuck up on you. Once you’ve detected that problem, the next step is to take action.
Your summer can be more enjoyable with hearing aids
Building connections is what hearing aids are really all about for most. They’re about communication. They make it easier to converse with others, to hear what’s happening around you, and to appreciate the sounds that you hear. And that’s especially important at those summer barbecues, for instance.
The newest models of hearing aids can help you bask in the sounds of summer, and they come with some really amazing built in tech, too. Here are some instances of some of that potent technology:
- Machine learning: Fancy algorithms (called machine learning) can help your hearing aids adjust to what you need, even before you know you need it. This is particularly handy when filtering sounds or in a noisy environment.
- Automatic programming: Modern hearing aids can automatically adapt to new surroundings or times of day, depending on how they’re programmed. This feature makes them more reliable and easier to use.
- 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.
- Rechargeability: Your battery will remain charged all day after charging while you sleep at night. It’s much like charging your cellphone. And when you travel with your hearing aids, it becomes really hassle free.
- 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 out these sounds (just like your ears once did). Modern hearing aids have considerable noise reduction capabilities, so you can hear what you actually want to hear.
- Smartphone compatibility: You can start to enjoy all kinds of features by syncing your hearing aid to your smartphone. Many phones will now permit you to download apps that help you control the settings on your hearing aids, so you can adjust for birdsong or grandkid’s laughter depending on what you want to hear at that moment.
You can ask us about how your set of hearing aids are appropriate for your favorite adventures (you can ask us whether you can bring your hearing aids into the water or on a mountain hike for instance). 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 standard questions about your hearing aid models. Will your hearing aids have an issue with hot weather, for instance? And you should also ask, how do I protect my hearing aids from humidity? The answer to both questions will depend on the model of hearing aid you have.
Some loud sounds you may want to steer clear of
As much as you love the sound of the dawn chorus, there are some other summer sounds that could actually be damaging to your hearing, so you’ll probably want to stay away from them. These are sounds that are, well, loud! And they’re harmful to everyone’s ears, not just individuals who have pre-existing hearing loss. Here are some of those sounds:
- Live music: Outdoor concerts are a big part of summer, but they can be damaging to your ears. So you might want to exercise some caution and be selective about which shows you attend and use earplugs.
- Fireworks: The dogs are on to something. Your hearing can most certainly be damaged by fireworks. Likewise, being near home-launched fireworks can also be damaging to your hearing (and limbs). It’s best for your hearing to keep away from fireworks completely.
- Boat engines: These engines are loud, so exercise some caution about distance and duration. When you’re fishing, turn the engine off. Or, even better, put in some earplugs for the entirety of your boat trip.
This list isn’t exhaustive. For people who are coping with hearing loss, summer might have a few less of these noisy activities.
But even with hearing loss you probably won’t want to avoid every noisy summer activity. So what’s the strategy? Using ear protection is the best strategy. Popping in a pair of earplugs before you go to any live music show can minimize a lot of the damage, for example. But it’s important that the hearing protection you chooses is reliable.
Enjoy the sounds of summer
If you are dealing with hearing loss, the sounds of summer could feel like they’re getting further and further away (even as the heat of summer becomes more and more oppressive). Which means, a lot of the joy of the season could get lost.
Getting the most out of your summer then, may mean making a pit stop with us. We will be able to identify whether your hearing is waning or not, and what type of hearing aid will best suit your needs.
So if you want to enjoy the dawn chorus, that’s where you need to start. Because birdsongs are only the beginning of those awesome summer sounds.
Get your hearing tuned up this summer. Call us for a hearing exam and discover if hearing aids are the right choice for you.
