stethescopes for hearing-impaired

ParkerBC,MSN,RN, PhD, RN · Oct 13, 2008

i am in the same boat as you. i have tried a couple of different stethoscopes that were a complete waste of money. there is a lot of discussion on the forum of littmann master cardiology stethoscope. i am attaching a form that compares all of them. i am thinking of making the investment for the electronic one that amplifies the acoustics. i hope this helps. :up:

http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/allheart/littmannspecs.pdf

tuffy2 · Oct 13, 2008

i am in the same boat as you. i have tried a couple of different stethoscopes that were a complete waste of money. there is a lot of discussion on the forum of littmann master cardiology stethoscope. i am attaching a form that compares all of them. i am thinking of making the investment for the electronic one that amplifies the acoustics. i hope this helps.
http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/allheart/littmannspecs.pdf

hi beancurd, thanks. i just hit the send button and ordered the thinklab electric one. i just have a little hearing loss in one ear but doc. said it is just going to get worse. i'm a bit of a perfectionist so i am kinda psyched to hear all the sounds it proclaims i will be able to hear. i will let you know how it works:cool:

Hilinenursegrl · Oct 15, 2008

The best out there for hearing impaired or even those faint heart/lung sounds is the Ultrascope. Not only is it a great scope, it comes in a jillion designs and all are hand painted. Expect to pay close to $100 but it is well worth it. It is the only one you will ever need. My sister got my one for my birthday last year and I wouldn't use, or recommend, anything else.

www.ultrascopes.com

Indy, LPN, LVN · Oct 21, 2008

I've tried ultrascopes, and they sure are cute. I've tried master cardiology too, they feel so nice... I do have to correct you though; something that does not amplify the actual sound beyond normal steth acoustics (i.e., something non electronic) will not help a person who's really got a hearing problem. I tried quite a few non electronic ones and I heard two things: jack and squat. My left ear is conduction-style deafness and my right ear has a combo of conduction problems and nerve damage.

Basically, what that means is the bones are trying to grow together in my ears (those cute little suckers whose names I forget) plus some old people used to like to call me up and scream at me when I worked at a call center for over a year. Fun. So no, ultrascopes aren't the answer to everything. But they're prettier than electronic scopes.

By the way, if you're just a little hard of hearing, do be careful with the volume setting on the thinklabs (or any) scope! Keep it as low as you need to hear, so you don't get used to a volume that will ultimately damage your hearing. I'm having this argument (discussion) with my husband lately. He likes mine, I let him have my old one which barely works, he thinks louder is always better. Okay, so he does have to listen through dog and cat fur, sheep wool, etc. so he may have an excuse.

I don't let people with normal hearing use mine - except for my husband because he talks too much, it's easier to give in. One exception; I have had a couple patients who were older, hard of hearing, and had interesting sounds to listen to, so I let them. :-) Oh, with the electronic, also watch out for verifying NG tube placement. Turn the volume on down further than normal 'cause if it's placed correctly, it sounds like a harley cranking up.

Trauma Columnist · Oct 24, 2008

I used the Littman electronic 3000 - cost $300 but worth every penny!

tuffy2 · Jun 4, 2009

To Susan: I hope you get this. I rec'd an email that you were wondering what I found out about the stethoscopes and try as I may to respond to you It did not work . But I started with the thinklab rhythm electronic for 200.00 it and I will probably use it after I am out of school but right now I have enough trouble just tring to do my assessment w/o the added technical aspect of this one. so then I bought the ultrascope regular. It is okay but not great. THen I finally went to the littmann cardiology soft touch chest piece and that works well. I too am a late bloomer and as you know our anxiety can get a bit high so for school I think K.I.S.S. keep it simple.... if you are on a tight buget (whos not) try the ultrascope for hearing impaired I think that was 100.00 if that doesnt suit you then go to the litman or the thinklab . I bought mine all at allheart.com bc I could exchange w/o trouble. kudos to you for getting in. and if you have any other questions please do not hesitate to ask. It is by far the most difficult and wonderful challange of my life thus far. our class started with about thirty and we are down to about 15 now of which Priase God I am one of. After my second semester I got a job as a tech and that has been a wonderful experience. I love taking care of my patients and i have gotten way more experience here then at clinicals. from Tuffy2

pinkemme · Jun 19, 2009

Hi TraumaRUs,

Just wondering where you purchased your scope. I too have a mild hearing loss, and since it will only get worse, I'm thinking of buying an electronic scope for nursing school next January. Also my B-Day is fast approaching, so I'm thinking it would make the perfect gift!

Thanks for you input!!

Pinkemme

tuffy2 · Jun 19, 2009

For NUrsing school i am using littmann cardiology S.T.C. stethoscope and it works very well I think it was 150.00 at Allheart.com but for work I will probably use my thinklab digital electronic it was 200.00 also at all heart. there is one more that is good for only like 100.00 it is the ultrascope (hearing imparid model) they also have a have a lifetime warrenty. Hope this helps. The reason I stopped using my thinklab is because in clinicals it can get kind of crazy, especially if you get an uptight instructor, and the think lab turns off automatically and I didint have the time to figure it out. I would be trying to to assessment and it would go off of course when the instructor was watching, you get the idea. if you have anymore questions let me know and good luck:typing

Tuffy2

pinkemme · Jun 19, 2009

Tuffy2,

Thanks so much for your input. I'll look into all of these. It's hard to figure out which one would be best, especially since you can't try them out first. Is the Littman Cardiology S.T.C. electronic? I have a mild hearing loss in both ears, and suspect it will only get worse, so I think I should probably stick with the electronic scopes...????

Pinkemme

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

For NUrsing school i am using littmann cardiology S.T.C. stethoscope and it works very well I think it was 150.00 at Allheart.com but for work I will probably use my thinklab digital electronic it was 200.00 also at all heart. there is one more that is good for only like 100.00 it is the ultrascope (hearing imparid model) they also have a have a lifetime warrenty. Hope this helps. The reason I stopped using my thinklab is because in clinicals it can get kind of crazy, especially if you get an uptight instructor, and the think lab turns off automatically and I didint have the time to figure it out. I would be trying to to assessment and it would go off of course when the instructor was watching, you get the idea. if you have anymore questions let me know and good luck:typing
Tuffy2

Do you know that you can change the "auto shutoff time" on your Thinklabs ds32a? It comes set at 2 minutes, but you can extend this to 3, 4, or 5 minutes. Check your manual, or see:

http://www.thinklabsmedical.com/electronic-stethoscope/support/ds32a-user-manual-163_2.html

pinkemme · Jun 20, 2009

I used the Littman electronic 3000 - cost $300 but worth every penny!

Do you know that you can change the "auto shutoff time" on your Thinklabs ds32a? It comes set at 2 minutes, but you can extend this to 3, 4, or 5 minutes. Check your manual, or see:
http://www.thinklabsmedical.com/electronic-stethoscope/support/ds32a-user-manual-163_2.html

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 ~