Gamers and Streamers Are Noticing ‘Dents’ In Their Heads Due To Prolonged Headphone Use

A Twitch streamer named Curtoss hosted a live event on June 3rd to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. While shaving his head for the charity, he was shocked to discover that his head shape had completely changed due to wearing his headset for long periods of time. 

This surprising revelation surprised both Curtoss and the viewers who witnessed it during the livestream.

In the clip, the man says: “Dude the shaver's working like a champ.

"I’m looking at an indent here; this is where my headphones go. I have a f**king headphone indent in my head. What the f**k.

“I thought that was just my hair; I thought just my hair did that.”

It didn’t take long for Curtoss’s reaction to go viral on social media. He shared a clip of his mid-shave discovery to his TikTok, while on Twitter, a video of his head indent received more than 42 million views.

Many were left amused, as one person on Twitter wrote: “Once you stream on Twitch enough your genetic code changes and your skull becomes soft and pliable.”

Another said: “Modern Cranial Modification - a status symbol among the idle, they are raised in heavy headphones from an early age, such that a divot forms as an easily recognisable marker of sedentism.”

A third commented: “This is why I will never wear a headset for prolonged time periods.”

While another advised: “Idc who you are PLEASE invest in IEM's in ear monitors, getting bald spots or having an indent in ya head isn't worth it.”

“Tell me why I’ve just rubbed my head to make sure I don’t have one,” shared one person.

While another wrote: “New fear just unlocked”

Other gamers have had similar experiences such as Miskif and Tyler1. But, whilst there is clearly a bit of mark in his head, it is certainly not an indentation in his actual skull.

So, can prolonged headphones really cause permanent damage? Yes and no.

According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, it was found that a minor fracture to the skull requires at least 135 kg of force. 

This means that even bulky headphones like Sennheisers won't change the shape of your head. However, it is possible to experience a temporary dent that disappears over time.

Prolonged use of headphones can lead to permanent hearing loss, as experts suggest.

According to ABC News, it is recommended to wear headphones for a maximum of 90 minutes daily at 80 percent volume to avoid potential risks.

A study by the National Acoustic Laboratories in 2017 revealed that around 1 in 10 Australians frequently listen to headphones at volumes exceeding 85 decibels

This is equivalent to standing next to a running lawn mower. It highlights the potential danger of excessively loud headphone use and the impact it can have on hearing health.

"When hearing damage starts, then you're really on an irreversible journey. If you don't protect your hearing, you're going to damage it for life," Professor McAlpine said, as per the outlet.