stethescopes for hearing-impaired

CrufflerJJ, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Jun 20, 2009

Hi ~
Just wondering do you like this scope? My head is spinning with all the info out there, and I'm still not sure if I should get an electronic one vs. a Littman Cardiology III. Mind you I still havn't even started nursing school yet! Maybe I should hold off and see what the instructors suggest, however, it would be nice to get some practice time in before starting school....decisions....decisions.....
Thanks for your two cents....
Pinkemme ~

You might want to hold off on buying a scope until you've spoken to your instructors. I only say this in case they have a problem with a :Dlowly scum student:D using a neato-keen amplified scope. I deliberately used a non-amplified scope during my nursing clinicals so as to not stand out too much (and to learn how to pick up subtle sounds without the aid of amplification). I'll probably do the same thing for a while as a newbie nurse. I recently spent $35 & got a GRX Medical CD-29 scope (a Littman Cardiology clone). I'll probably use that one for a while before going to my Thinklabs scope. We'll see...

If you need an amplified scope, the nursing profs shouldn't have any problem with it. You could always contact the head of your program ahead of time just to make sure.

I used the Thinklabs ds32a scope on medic duty for about 18 months. I liked it a lot - the amplification enabled me to hear patient breath sounds over the noise of the ambulance siren. The design of the Thinklabs scope is pretty neat. With some amplified scopes, the amplifier picks up (& amplifies) noise between the chestpiece & the tubing that leads to the amplifier. The Thinklabs scope only amplifies what's picked up by the chestpiece. It's less sensitive to noise that "leaks into" the tubing from the outside environment.

If you look on Amazon (search for "thinklabs"), the scope is generally well reviewed.

If I could change one thing about the Thinklabs ds32a it would be how it "drapes" across your neck. With a decent stethoscope, you toss it around your neck and it pretty well stays put. The chestpiece doesn't sink down (causing the earpieces to climb up). I'm not sure if the weight distributon is a bit "off", but the Thinklabs scope wouldn't stay put - the chestpiece may be heavier than the rest of the scope. It's only a minor gripe.

pinkemme · Jun 20, 2009

Thanks for your feedback!! I've talked to one of the instructors who lives in my town, and I might have to give her a call again to see if she has any input on this subject. Have you had an experience where somone thought less of you for using an electronic scope? I look at it this way, I'm only trying to be the best I can be, and unfortunately, I truly have a hearing impairment. I'm attending a small private school (that costs a pretty penny too I might add...) so if I need to use this 'tool' in order to better do my job, then so be it. I can't imagine getting any kind of attitude from an instructor for using somehting I truly need?? I'll need to make some calls.

Pehaps 2 scopes isn't such a bad idea, just costly!!! I really have to give this more thought....thanks again for your advice, I really need all I can get!!

pinkemme

CrufflerJJ, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Jun 20, 2009

Thanks for your feedback!! I've talked to one of the instructors who lives in my town, and I might have to give her a call again to see if she has any input on this subject. Have you had an experience where somone thought less of you for using an electronic scope? I look at it this way, I'm only trying to be the best I can be, and unfortunately, I truly have a hearing impairment. I'm attending a small private school (that costs a pretty penny too I might add...) so if I need to use this 'tool' in order to better do my job, then so be it. I can't imagine getting any kind of attitude from an instructor for using somehting I truly need?? I'll need to make some calls.
Pehaps 2 scopes isn't such a bad idea, just costly!!! I really have to give this more thought....thanks again for your advice, I really need all I can get!!
pinkemme

I really don't think you'll have a problem with the instructors due to your hearing impairment. The Americans with Disabilities Act should protect you (reasonable accommodations & all that jazz) from any problems.

No, I never encountered anybody who thought less of me for using an amplified scope. In nursing school (as in many things), it may not be a good thing to stand out too much from your peers (especially at the beginning of your program or clinicals). The Japanese have a saying which goes something along the lines of "the nail that stands up gets pounded down." If the instructors or clinical nurses somehow got the idea that I felt "better" than the rest of the students due to my super-snazzy scope, I suspect they'd correct the issue pretty quickly (& rightfully so).

Again, I really don't think you'll be hassled since you need it for a medical reason. To cover your bases, you might want to get a doctor's note either before or shortly after you start your nursing program, saying something to the effect of "due to pinkemme's hearing loss, she will need the OPTION of using an amplified stethoscope." The reason I say "option" is that you will want it to be your choice - if the batteries die in your amplified scope (slim chance, but just in case), you will want the option of using a borrowed scope if you can still do a good job with it.

As to the expense of 2 scopes, you might consider getting a Littman clone as your "manual" scope, rather than the real thing. That would save some $$$.

Another thing you might consider is to go to a local medical supply store & try out any amplified scopes they have available. A woman in my accelerated BSN cohort had some sort of autoimmune-induced severe hearing loss a year or so before starting the program. She used a manual scope during the program, but after graduation, she got an amplified scope. I loaned her my Thinklabs scope, but she ended up choosing a Cardionics scope. In her email to me, she said:

I finally went with the Cardionics E-scope with the traditional

binaurals. I received the shipment a few days before I left, and just

got home last night so I haven't had much of a chance to play with it

though. I chose this one because it offered the most amplification,

which I really don't need much right now, but the way my hearing

fluctuates, I likely will need considerable amplification down the

road. Also, it was the brand I heard things most clearly with.

Since the amplified scopes are so expensive, you might want to contact Thinklabs to see if they'd loan you a scope for evaluation (if the local medical supply place doesn't carry them). Thinklabs' CEO, Clive Smith, has always seemed to be a decent person in our email conversations. You might direct your inquiry to him (then again, you might not!). His contact info is:

Clive Smith

Thinklabs

[email protected]

303-521-5023

pinkemme · Jun 20, 2009

thank you for the time & effort you put into this response....I love this site!!!!!

CrufflerJJ, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Jun 20, 2009

Glad to help!

stripec30 · Jun 22, 2009

You could try some custom earpieces -- You send in a mold of your ear canal (like swimming earplugs) and get a set of perfectly fitting earpieces. It may be another option besides (along with) an electronic scope. :twocents:

pinkemme · Jun 23, 2009

You could try some custom earpieces -- You send in a mold of your ear canal (like swimming earplugs) and get a set of perfectly fitting earpieces. It may be another option besides (along with) an electronic scope.

Hi ~

Great suggestion, where would I do something like this? A Hearing Aid Specialist?? I havn't even really used a scope yet, so I'm not sure what to expect, I just know that my hearing s****!!!!

I did take the advise of another poster, and emailed the E-scope company to see if there are any local places in my area where I could go and try some out...trouble is, I'm not sure what I'm 'suppose' to be hearing at this point...its a catch 22!!

PinkEmme

aminv · Aug 28, 2009

how can you put a steth in your ear with hearing aids in them. i tried forget about hearing anything it really hurts. please give me advise

aminv · Aug 28, 2009

ANy of you wear hearing aid? with this stet that you are using? how is it working out?

Brenda Bailey · Oct 25, 2011

Stethosocpe for hearing impaired.

I have used the Cardionics E-Scope for 8 years now with great results. I have found Cardionics a reliable company to work with as far as questions or repairs. Since I now have hearing aids, I use the model with headphones. It is expensive, but has been well worth the money for me. I am a Respiratory Therapist and listening to breath sounds is an essential part of my job.

Brenda