Have you ever slept with the window in your bedroom open and woken up to the wonderful sound of birds singing just as the sun comes up? Turns out, there’s a name 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 type of bird 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. And that’s sad.
That’s especially true because it isn’t just birdsong you may be missing out on. Summer is full of amazing sounds. And you may be missing those summer sounds because you have hearing loss that’s gone undiagnosed or simply neglected. 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
You likely think of a very hot sun in a clear blue sky when you think about summer. But if you stick with your imagination a little longer, you’ll start adding highlights that make this blue sky seem more like summer, the sounds that fill in the day. You may be thinking about:
- The crashing of waves on the beach (or a babbling creek if you’re in a more landlocked area).
- The sound of birds performing mating songs. (Humans aren’t the only species to use love songs.)
- The symphony of frogs croaking at night, especially in the early hours of the night.
- The sound of your grandchildren laughing and playing.
- The buzzing of bees as they fly around pollinating flowers and helping nature bloom.
You get the point. Summer is alive with amazing sounds. The experience and vibe of summer are considerably enhanced by these sounds. And these sounds by themselves bring great joy.
It’s possible that hearing loss may have snuck up on you, especially if these or any other summer sounds sound to be foreign to you these days. 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. They’re about communication. You’ll be more mindful of what’s happening around you, better able to communicate with those around you, and appreciate the sounds in your world. And at those summer cook-outs, for instance, that’s even more important.
The latest models of hearing aids can help you bask in the sounds of summer, and they come with some pretty amazing built in tech, as well. For example, most contemporary hearing aids provide:
- Smartphone compatibility: You can begin to appreciate all types of features by syncing your hearing aid to your cellphone. Many cell 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 time.
- Noise reduction: If you want to hear the sound of crashing waves, but not the roar of traffic behind you, you’ll want hearing aids that can help you sort through these sounds (in the same way your ears used to do). Noise reduction features are normal in modern hearing aids so you will be able to dial in the sounds you want to hear.
- Machine learning: Your hearing aid can use “machine learning”, which are sophisticated intelligent algorithms, to adjust to your audio landscape before you even knew it needed to. In noisy settings or when eliminating specific sounds, this can be especially handy.
- Automatic programming: Contemporary hearing aids can automatically adjust to new settings or times of day, depending on how they’re programmed. This function makes them more effective and simpler to use.
- Rechargeability: You can recharge your hearing aid while sleeping and get full batteries all through the day. Essentially, you can charge your hearing aids the same way you charge your cellphone. This also makes traveling with hearing aids a lot easier.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Boating on the lake and want to listen to some tunes? Well, your hearing aids can be connected to the boat’s stereo using Bluetooth.
We can help you learn how your specific hearing needs can be met by your hearing aids (for example, you can ask whether you can wear them while you’re swimming or hiking in the country, that sort of thing). Hearing aids usually don’t get along with water. But in general, your hearing aids will make your summer an all around livelier experience.
Also, asking us basic questions about your hearing aid model will be a good idea. Will your hearing aids have a problem with hot weather, for example? And you should also ask, how can I protect my hearing aids from moisture in the air? Depending on the model of hearing aid, the answer to these questions will vary.
Perhaps stay away from these sounds
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 steer clear of them. These are sounds that are, well, loud! And everybody’s ears are vulnerable even if they don’t have pre-existing hearing loss. Here are a few of those sounds:
- Live music: Outdoor concerts are a big part of summer, but they can be damaging to your hearing. This means you might want to be particular about which shows you see (rather than going to a festival every weekend).
- Fireworks: Dogs have the right idea. Your hearing can most certainly be harmed by fireworks. This includes both commercial and home launched fireworks. It’s best for your hearing to keep away from fireworks entirely.
- Boat engines: These engines are loud, so exercise some caution about distance and duration. When you’re fishing, shut the engine off. Or, an even better plan would be to use some earplugs.
This is only a partial list. Summer fun for individuals with hearing loss might not include quite as many of those fireworks and loud noise conditions.
But even with hearing loss you probably won’t want to avoid every loud summer activity. So what’s the solution? Well, you can wear ear protection. Putting in a set of earplugs before you see any live music show can mitigate much of the damage, for example. You just need to make certain you’re using effective ear protection.
Enjoy the sounds of summer
As the heat of summer gets more oppressive, if you have hearing loss, the summer sounds may seem like they’re getting further away. And that means you might miss a lot of the season’s joy.
Getting the most out of your summer then, may require making a pit stop with us. We will be able to figure out whether your hearing is failing or not, and what type of hearing aid will be best for your situation.
So if you want to enjoy the dawn chorus, that’s where you need to start. Because birdsongs are only the beginning of those amazing summer sounds.
Get your hearing tuned up this summer. Schedule an appointment today to find out which hearing aids are best for you!
