Hearing loss and nursing school

[teapot289]

Hello,

I am starting the clinical portion of nursing school in January for an accelerated program. I have moderate hearing loss in both ears and obtained hearing aids 2 years ago for my previous job as I found it hard to hear 'soft talkers' at work. That being said I don't wear them 24 hours a day, but I do in public settings. For those of you wearing hearing aids, do you take them in and out all day as needed to use your stethoscope? Do you find this problematic? Does anyone have any advice on not taking my hearing aids in and out repeatedly and publicly all day in front of patients? I am very open and honest about my hearing loss, but it is often mistaken for incompetence to ask someone to repeat themselves. I want to avoid people thinking I can't do my job because of this. Any advice would be appreciated thank you!

[1969]

I have a loss, too in one ear. I see my ENT dr twice a year, and recently asked this same question. I have already wanted to try a hearing aid of some sort, and he suggested that I see the audiologist again and she has a great selection of hearing aids, and he says there are definitely some that are tiny enough for steths. Pricey, I'm sure, but maybe worth it?

[diane227, LPN, RN]

You might also want to think of purchasing an amplified stethoscope. I have one and although they are not cheap, they work really well. Mine cost me about $350.00.

[CrazziiRN913, ADN, BSN]

There are stethoscopes made for the hard of hearing...if your nursing school has a disabilities coordinator I would contact them ASAP! I had a girl in my class that had a special stethoscope but it took a few weeks to get in.

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

My friend in the program has hearing aids in both hears and she keeps them in all day long. During assessment she leaves them in and uses an amplified/electronic stetho. You would never know she had them.