Focus on your hearing this fall

2020-12-22 Autumn is here! It’s a time to tempt your eyes with vibrant landscapes of changing leaves and taste buds with PSLs (that’s pumpkin spice lattes). At HearingLife, fall is a special season for focusing on familiar sounds and taking care of your hearing wellness.

Celebrating the autumn soundscape

October is a great time to be thinking about your hearing. Just as there is an explosion of colorful leaves, especially in the Northeast, you may notice a new richness to the sounds around you. Have you heard:

 * Lively birdsong? Birds are migrating. Whether they are heading your way if you live in the southern US, or practicing their formations to escape the approaching winter, America's skies are full of birds’ chirping.

 * Rain’s pitter-patter? Not everyone enjoys the increase of raindrops hitting their windows, but many people find the sounds of a fall rain shower comforting and cozy.

 * Whistling winds and falling leaves? If you have been out for a walk lately, you may notice an increase in the sound coming from trees.

 * Kids’ voices from playgrounds? Some children are back in school. Although some classes are virtual, you can still enjoy children’s laughter coming from your local park or even your neighbors’ yards. And while 2020 might not be the best year for hearing "trick or treat," it's always important to be able to hear your doorbell.

If you can’t hear these sounds now, or they seem fainter, it may be a sign of hearing loss. If you have concerns, you may want to start by taking our online hearing test.

Autumn foods that help promote hearing wellness
Fall isn’t just a visual and audio experience; there are plenty of meals associated with this time of year. Some foods are actually very good for your hearing. If you have been to a Campaign for Better Hearing event, you have probably heard that bananas promote hearing health because they are rich in potassium. Did you know that some of our favorite fall foods also contain lots of potassium? According to the University of Michigan, several foods that are rich in potassium include:

 * Squashes (acorn, winter and pumpkins)

 * Potatoes and sweet potatoes

 * Turkey

When you plan your favorite fall meals, you may want to make foods that can help improve your hearing health.

man-cutting-wood-with-chainsaw

Why is fall the best time to protect your hearing?

Whether it is the increased need for leaf blowers or more power saws cutting wood as families prepare for winter, you may notice it’s getting a bit louder around you. That's why fall is a good time to help prevent hearing loss and be proactive with your hearing safety.

If you enjoy certain louder hobbies, such as hunting and riding ATVs, you may want to purchase specialty hearing protection. The professionals at HearingLife can fit you for in-the-ear hearing protection, fitted to your ears. Even if you only mow your lawn, it is important to protect your ears from loud noise.

Are you ready for the holidays?

Thanksgiving is right around the corner! Whether you are gathering with family and friends as you always have, or you will be celebrating the holiday via Zoom, it’s important to be able to hear what’s going on.
Do you struggle to follow the conversation around the table? Maybe there’s too much background noise, especially when several people are talking at once. One of the many benefits of better hearing is the increased ability to communicate. Instead of asking people to repeat themselves over and over, or to just withdraw, hearing aids can help you hear in a complex sound environment.

Streaming sound to your hearing aids

Whether you are connecting from your laptop or your cell phone (or other devices), you can stream sound wirelessly to your hearing aids. These days, this is an especially important feature. If you are planning a virtual holiday gathering and you have hearing loss, now is a good time to upgrade older devices to Bluetooth® hearing aids. That way, you may hear conversations clearly, even if you are sitting in different states – or on different continents – when you gather. We have put together a variety of self-help videos and guides for you to learn how to pair your hearing aids to various devices so you can get the most out of them.

Need more help? Our experts are available to answer questions today

Every season, HearingLife’s experts are here with solutions for your specific hearing needs. Whether it is protection in the fall, enjoying winter activities, celebrating Better Hearing and Speech Month each spring or reminding you how to take care of your hearing during summer festivals, you can turn to us for unique solutions. We welcome you to make an appointment for a complimentary hearing assessment* at more than 600 locations across the country.