New Littmann, Is it working properly??!!

hi everyone!! i was so excited to order my new stethoscope. today it arrived in the mail yeah!!! i was practicing taking my boyfriends bp and then all of a sudden i couldnt hear the pulse. i was worried that my hearing had diminished in a hurry!!! almost to a crying point! after realizing that it was the way i was placing the scope in my ears. one direction i could hear the pulse if it got turned (to opposite ears) i could not. is this normal with a littmann? (littmann master ii) or is it defective? i have not had this happen with other stethoscopes ...course they were always cheap versions....no matter which way i placed them in my ears, i could hear!

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[color=#ff8c00]thanks

[dianacs]

Yes, that is normal. It's supposed to be that way! Enjoy your new stethoscope.

[Katnip, RN]

There should be some sort of instruction book that came with the stethascope.

I remember one clinical, I couldn't hear anything. Thought I was going deaf. It turned out that I had turned the diaphragm so that you could only hear from the bell. One of the nurses showed me how to work that thingy. I was really embarrassed, but since then I've seen others do the same thing. :)

[#1rnstudent]

http://www.3m.com/us/healthcare/professionals/littmann/jhtml/use_of_your_scope.jhtml

Optimizing the Acoustical Performance

If your stethoscope's acoustical performance appears to be lacking or absent, try one of following:

*

*Proper Headset Alignment: Littmann stethoscopes have headsets which have been designed to be worn at an anatomically correct angle, oriented toward the user's ear canals. Before placing the eartips in your ears, hold the stethoscope headset in front of you so that the eartubes point away from you (Figure A). When the eartips are in your ears, the eartips should be pointed forward (Figure B). Not everyone's ear canals are the same. If after inserting the eartips in proper manner, the fit does not seem comfortable, and acoustic performance does not improve, grasp each of the eartubes, adjusting the headset for a custom fit. Improperly wearing the stethoscope headset can result in poor acoustical seal, and in some cases, complete sound blockage (Figure C).

*Proper Fit of Eartips: It is important that the proper sized eartips be used to achieve optimal acoustical performance. This is especially true when using the soft-sealing eartips. If the soft-sealing eartip is too large for the user, the compression of that eartip while in the ear, could result in poor acoustical performance. This could also be true if the eartip is too small. Finding the individual's correct ear size results in the best acoustical performance.

*Check for Obstructions: If the stethoscope is commonly carried in a pocket, or hasn't routinely been cleaned, it is possible that lint or dirt could be obstructing the sound pathway. Routine care and maintenance can prevent this from happening.

*Check the Seal: Stethoscopes rely on an airtight seal in order to transmit body sounds from the patient to the user's ear. Loose parts in the chestpiece, loose tubing, or cracked tubing can prevent an airtight seal.

*Index the Bell: When using a double-sided stethoscope, the user needs to open, or index the bell or diaphragm by rotating the chestpiece. If the diaphragm is open, the bell will be closed, preventing sound from coming in through the bell, and vice versa.

[JimmyMallo]

When you say "when it got turned (to opposite ears)" I suppose you mean putting it on backwards? The earpieces on quality stethescopes always angle forward toward your face. If the ear peices are angled backwards (to the back of your head) you have it on backwards. Your auditory canal actually curves to the front of your skull so the earpeices are anatomically correct. If you put is on backwards however you will occlude the earhole on the steth and hear nothing. No big deal, just takes some getting used to

[Ari RN, BSN, RN]

hi everyone!! i was so excited to order my new stethoscope. today it arrived in the mail yeah!!! i was practicing taking my boyfriends bp and then all of a sudden i couldnt hear the pulse. i was worried that my hearing had diminished in a hurry!!! almost to a crying point! after realizing that it was the way i was placing the scope in my ears. one direction i could hear the pulse if it got turned (to opposite ears) i could not. is this normal with a littmann? (littmann master ii) or is it defective? i have not had this happen with other stethoscopes ...course they were always cheap versions....no matter which way i placed them in my ears, i could hear!

[color=#ff8c00]thanks

you are too funny rn2binpa.:rotfl:

good luck in nursing school!

[amy3535]

Are you putting the earpiece in the right way? When I first got mine I thought it was broken because I couldn't hear anything. When I figured it out and turned it around..WOW....I felt like an idiot. But this is all new to me.

[gonnabeanursetoo]

Proper Headset Alignment: Littmann stethoscopes have headsets which have been designed to be worn at an anatomically correct angle, oriented toward the user's ear canals. Before placing the eartips in your ears, hold the stethoscope headset in front of you so that the eartubes point away from you (Figure A). When the eartips are in your ears, the eartips should be pointed forward (Figure B). Not everyone's ear canals are the same. If after inserting the eartips in proper manner, the fit does not seem comfortable, and acoustic performance does not improve, grasp each of the eartubes, adjusting the headset for a custom fit. Improperly wearing the stethoscope headset can result in poor acoustical seal, and in some cases, complete sound blockage (Figure C). >>

I thought this was the way it was supposed to be done with ALL stethoscopes. At least that is what I have been taught.

[RN2BinPA]

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: just call me a dork! lol....thanks, jeez, backwards forwards......it shouldna mattered!!! lol....

anema anyone??

:rotfl: :rotfl:

thanks all....