I used to think earplugs at concerts were for people who didn't really love music.

Then I left a show with ringing ears for three days straight.

Tinnitus isn't dramatic. It's quiet damage that compounds. Most people don't notice it until it's too late — because the hearing loss is gradual and shows up years later.

Here's what nobody tells you: the right earplugs don't muffle music. They filter it. You still hear the full mix, the bass, the vocals — just without the frequencies that cause damage (typically 2-4kHz range, which is also where the harshest distortion lives in loud venues).

We started HushCo because this shouldn't be an either/or. You can go to every show, every festival, every club night — and still have your hearing at 50.

Some things worth knowing:

• 85dB is the threshold where hearing damage starts (most concerts hit 100-110dB)

• 2 hours at 110dB = the same exposure risk as a full workday in a factory

• NRR 20 is generally the sweet spot for concerts — reduces damage without losing the experience

If you go to more than a few shows a year, this is worth thinking about.

— HushCo