couldn't hear a THING with THREE different Littmans

[Elizabeth K.]

This weekend, I was able to try the Littman Lightweight, Classic II SE and Master Cardiology models. I have never used a stethoscope before. What I had always imagined was that I'd hear a loud, strong heartbeart. :heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat The girl at the store actually put the piece to my daughter's chest and let me listen. I am not sure what the extent of her experience was, though. She did say it would take practice to tune out the ambient sounds.

Well, I really couldn't hear anything -- not even with the Master Cardiology model. The sounds were just SOOO faint. And, yes -- I had the earpieces in the right way (facing forward). The sound I heard was similar to that sound you hear when you are underwater -- when sounds are muffled.

Is this normal ??? I really did not notice a different AT ALL between all three models! Is it just my inexperience???

Thanks.

[Christen, ANP]

there are different types of ear pieces you can put on the stethoscopes - i can't hear a thing out of the grey ear pieces, but the black ones work great for me. :)

[superramvette]

I bought the electronic 3100 littman and I can hear great. It amplifies the sound. Problem is its almost 300 bucks. I have a 50 dB hearing loss and can hear fine with it if that says anything

[AMR21, BSN, RN]

also, there are two different sizes of ear pieces ... i have to have the small ones or i just can't hear a single thing. try changing the earpiece size

[morte, LPN, LVN]

I bought the electronic 3100 littman and I can hear great. It amplifies the sound. Problem is its almost 300 bucks. I have a 50 dB hearing loss and can hear fine with it if that says anything

i have a 60 or better deficit and can do BP and bowel sounds with an ordinary scope, however mine is an upper end loss, not across the board......so the higher pitches of lung sounds are questionable for me...to the OP makes sure the bell is turned the right way as well as the ear pieces

[NuNurse<3]

May sound dumb, but I just bought myself the Littman Classic II S.E. and it took me a couple hours till I figured out how to turn it on. What you're describing is what I heard when it wasn't turned on. I have no experience yet either, I just started nursing school and read the directions and was turning it the wrong way to turn it on, so maybe the chick at the store didn't know either?