Hearing Protection In Brentwood & Nashville, TN
The loudness of life can take a permanent toll on hearing. Whether it’s from music, work, or recreation, prolonged exposure to noise can lead to irreversible hearing damage. At Ears 4 U Hearing Care in Brentwood and Nashville, TN, we offer the highest-quality custom hearing protection designed to fit your lifestyle and protect your ears from harmful noise levels.
- Musicians
- Hunters/Firearm Users
- Swimmers
- Light Sleepers
- Concert-Goers
- Woodworkers/Power Tool Users
- Motorcyclists
- Factory Workers
From world-renowned touring rock bands, to local audiophiles, Dr. Rebecca Grome is the go-to music audiologist in Nashville for many music industry professionals and hobbyists. In addition to expert clinical appointments, we offer fittings for custom filtered “musicians” earplugs, custom in-ear monitors, custom sleeves for universal-fit IEMs, as well as IEM listening tubes for audio engineers.
Understanding Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL)
Noise is an everyday part of life, but prolonged exposure to loud sounds can have lasting consequences. Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) occurs when delicate hair cells in the inner ear are damaged by excessive noise. Unlike other types of hearing loss, NIHL is 100% preventable—yet it affects millions of people of all ages.
How Loud Is Too Loud?
Sound intensity is measured in decibels (dB). Because decibels work on a logarithmic scale, small increases represent big jumps in sound power. For example, 70 dB is ten times louder than 60 dB.
| Sound Source | Approx. dB Level | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Whisper | 30 dB | Safe |
| Normal conversation | 60 dB | Safe |
| Traffic noise | 70–85 dB | Possible damage with prolonged exposure |
| Lawn mower | 90 dB | Damage possible after 2 hours |
| Rock concert or nightclub | 100–120 dB | Damage possible within minutes |
| Fireworks | 140 dB | Immediate risk of hearing loss |
Sounds above 70 dB can cause damage with extended exposure, and anything over 120 dB poses an immediate risk.
Safe Noise Exposure Guidelines
≤70 dB: Safe for unlimited exposure.
85 dB: Damage possible after 8 hours of exposure.
100 dB: Damage possible after 15 minutes.
Remember: The louder the sound, the shorter the safe exposure time.
Tips for Protecting Your Hearing
Wear hearing protection — Custom earplugs or earmolds offer superior comfort and effectiveness.
Monitor your listening levels — Keep headphone volume below 60% and take listening breaks.
Limit time in noisy environments — Step away periodically to give your ears a rest.
Use decibel meter apps — Measure environmental noise and know when to protect your ears.
Get regular hearing check-ups — Early detection is key to preventing long-term loss.
Expert Hearing Protection in Nashville & Brentwood, TN
Your hearing is precious — protect it for a lifetime of sound enjoyment. At Ears 4 U Hearing Care, we’re proud to serve Brentwood and Nashville with custom ear protection, musician-focused audiology, and hearing health solutions tailored to your lifestyle.
Whether you’re preparing for a concert tour, working in a loud environment, or simply enjoying the sounds of daily life, we’ll help you hear safely and clearly.
Musician Hearing Tests
Musicians and those in the music industry have very unique listening needs. A standard hearing evaluation typically goes through 8000 Hz only, however at Ears 4 U, our musician protocol includes extended high frequency testing through 16-20 kHz. Hearing conservation is important to our team, and we recommend monitoring thresholds annually for those with continued noise exposure.
Product Verification and Maintenance
Have you ever purchased custom earplugs or IEMs and just felt like things were “off”? Often times, we’re able to troubleshoot, clean, and verify functionality of IEMs as well as provide attenuation measurements of seal in the ear. We have worked with many musicians and monitor engineers to come up with protocols for reducing and managing listening levels during performance.