Anyone who has birded with me knows I have trouble hearing many birds, especially at a distance. My hearing aids have definitely helped, especially when my audiologist gave me a special setting to use while birding which amplifies the range of many birds. A friend recently told me about an article in the July 2023 issue of Birding, the magazine published by American Birding Association.
Lang Elliot of HearBirdsAgain.org has the article on his web site. I recommend you read the article yourself but thought I’d highlight a few points and how they relate to me.
- People with high-frequency hearing loss, the ability to hear birdsong can be diminished or even lost altogether. As we age, our hearing naturally declines, and this can make it more difficult to hear high-pitched sounds. Other causes of high-frequency hearing loss include exposure to loud noise, certain medications, and certain medical conditions. (Mine is likely hereditary).
- The average frequency of the songs of songbirds is around 3500 to 4000 Hz, approximately the same pitch as the highest note of a piano. Many warblers, sparrows, waxwings, kinglets, and a number of other birds produce sounds that reach 8,000 Hz and above.
- To know the range of your hearing loss, you need an audiogram from your audiologist. My audiogram indicates I have moderate hearing loss from 1,000 Hz to 8,000 Hz. So this is right in the range of most songbirds.
- Traditional hearing aids amplify the sound in the ranges where deficiencies exist. The disadvantage is that amplification also amplifies other sounds such as wind, rustling of leaves or voices. There is also a limit to the amplification before squealing occurs. Hearing aids also diminish the ability to discern the direction of the bird song. Therefore, the setting my audiologist has given me helps but it isn’t perfect.
- The recently introduced over-the-counter hearing aids do not amplify only certain ranges as my hearing aids do. This means all sounds (including motor noises, etc.) are amplified. This may be improved over time.
- HearBirdsAgain.org has created an app that uses advanced algorithms to lower the pitch of bird songs in real time, making them audible to people with high-frequency hearing loss. Hear Birds Again is a free, open-source app that is available for download on the Apple App Store.
- The app is best used in conjunction with a well-designed “binaural headset” that has mics mounted at each ear. For me, this means I’d have to forego my existing hearing aids while birding. Also, unfortunately, those headsets are not currently commercially available. HearBirdsAgain.org has recommended a kit to make your own headset “relatively easily”. When I clicked on the links, the kit was available for around $225.
- I downloaded the app but without the headset, I didn’t think it would work for my birding experience. I am unwilling to give up the capabilities of my hearing aids to use the app. I may change my mind as technology and my hearing changes.
I’d love to get feedback from anyone who has tried the app or has found another solution for “hearing birds again”.
Submitted by: Judy Morr
Photos from: HearingBirdsAgain.org
SIB 