In recent years, headphone usage has reached an all-time high. Whether you can’t get through a commute, workout or flight without the use of headphones to help you get through it, there is no denying that headphones can be extremely beneficial.
As with everything in life, too much can be a bad thing and can lead to problems down the line. Have you ever ended up with a headache after wearing your headphones for too long? Or perhaps there was an instance where you thought that the area around one of your ears has become slightly deformed or uneven?
You might have wondered can headphones dent your head. In this article, we will answer that and other questions like how to make wearing headphones more comfortable and what to do if you actually feel a dent in your head.
Let’s start with the main question.
Can headphones dent your head?
One of the main reasons why someone would ask can headphones dent your head is because they ended up with a slight but noticeable dent in one or both sides of their head after wearing headphones. Luckily it’s nothing to worry about.
It can feel a little strange and can be slightly awkward but it’s nothing that will last. The good news is that it won’t cause long-term damage and the only side effects are slight discomfort while wearing your headphones.
As you can see the main thing to take away from this is that headphones shouldn’t leave your head deformed. If there is any discomfort it should go away after taking the earphones off. So in most cases, the best thing to do is simply wait it out.
To avoid the discomfort caused by headphones, there are a few tips you can follow.
5 ways to make your headphone more comfortable
1. Position headphones correctly
It is important to make sure that your headphones are in a position where they won’t cause discomfort when you wear them. You should avoid placing them too low on your head as this can cause tension and discomfort.
Also, it is a good idea to make sure that the device isn’t pressing against your ear or weighing down on it at all. If you notice that there is some discomfort then just tighten or loosen the headphones accordingly.
2. Don’t wear headphones too tightly
The key to this is not wearing the headphones too tightly. If they are tight enough for you to see or feel that there is pressure on your skull, then like we mentioned above it will make things uncomfortable.
If you want a perfect fit that won’t cause any discomfort, try buying some earphones with adjustable rings and customizable pads and earpads.
3. Wear headphones for shorter periods of time
This might seem like obvious advice but it’s something that a lot of people forget about. If you want to avoid any discomfort, then try and wear your headphones for shorter periods as opposed to wearing them all day long.
Wearing them for longer than 8 hours can lead to pressure around the ears which will cause discomfort and can leave you feeling like you’re head is deformed, so we recommend shortening the amount of time you spend wearing your headphones each day.
4. Take regular breaks
It is important to take regular breaks from wearing your headphones so that the pressure won’t be too much on one side of your head or in one area of your skull.
Taking 10-30 minute breaks regularly will not only prevent you from wearing your headphones too long but will also improve the longevity of your devices.
5. Keep track of how often you wear them
This is where a lot of people fail when it comes to protecting themselves against discomfort caused by headphones.
If you are regularly taking breaks then it should be easy for you to keep track of how much time you spend wearing them each day. It means that if there is any discomfort or pressure being applied to one side of your head while wearing headphones, all you need to do is remember how long you have been wearing them and take off the earphones accordingly.
If this causes any problems then use some over-ear headphone pads that are adjustable in size so they can accommodate any difference in the size of your head.
So to put it simply, if you are experiencing any discomfort or pressure then take off the earphones or headphones for a while until you feel better. If the discomfort becomes too much then stop wearing them completely for a few hours. This will allow your skull to rest. However some people might experience some slight discomfort as we mentioned before, you don’t have to worry about them denting your head.
However, what if you actually feel a dent after taking off your headphones?
It is unlikely, if not impossible, that the dent is caused by the headphones themselves. There might be an additional condition that caused the dent that you didn’t know about. We advise consulting with a doctor if you feel significant pain in your skull or feel a large indentation.
Here are some possible causes of a dent in your head.
4 possible causes of a dent in your head
1. Head Injury
One of the most common causes of a dent in your head is a previous injury you might not have been aware of, especially if it happened when you were young.
These head injuries can cause bone deformities that will remain throughout your adult life and they might also deteriorate over time which can cause additional damage or more severe dent in the skull.
2. Meniere’s Disease
This is a condition that mostly affects your inner ear which can cause tinnitus, vertigo and other symptoms that might leave you feeling disoriented for extended periods of time.
It is also believed that Meniere’s disease might be the result or cause of head injuries which can lead to extensive damage in the long run.
3. Fractured Skull
If you suffered a major injury like a fracture on your skull, it’s very possible that there are parts of your skull that do not heal properly and become deformed as a result, causing indents or deformities in your forehead or other parts of your head.
This will require immediate medical attention because if left unchecked it can affect how your brain functions, which could mean serious problems later on if the injury goes untreated for far too long.
4. Arthritis Or Osteoporosis
Osteoarthritis and other similar conditions can cause your bones to lose strength and become deformed over time, which might contribute to the formation of dents on your skull.
If you have any debilitating illnesses like arthritis or osteoporosis it’s best to avoid using headphones as they could cause additional strain on your head and exacerbate the deformities already present in your skull.
In Conclusion
If you’re worried that headphones will dent your head, you only need to be conscious of how much time you spend wearing them and we assure you that no damage will be done to your head just by using headphones.
However, we always advise taking regular breaks when using headphones. Even if you feel a little discomfort, it’s best to stop wearing them for a short period of time until the pressure or discomfort subsides and then start using them again.
If this doesn’t resolve the problem then it means that there is another underlying issue that needs to be treated immediately. In that case, you should consult with a doctor to determine the cause of your discomfort and get treatment if necessary.
