Mild Hearing Loss

metfan · Jul 17, 2010

I just graduated with my RN and passed the NCLEX. I also have moderate/severe hearing loss. I rarely had to tell anyone during school. I wear hearing aids that are very small. Most people did not even know I had them in. I used a special stethoscope during clinicals. I never had to ask permission. I have a Littmann 3100 which is really amplified but not that much bigger than a "regular" stethoscope. Most people thought it was cool and wanted to try it. I just told people I had hearing loss and had to use an electric stethoscope. No one really cared. I just started a new job. My first as an RN and nobody has questioned me yet. I just pop out my hearing aids when I need to use the stethoscope. I don't feel my hearing loss keeps me from giving good care. My biggest fear is losing my $300.00 stethoscope. Metfan

Daisy_08, BSN, RN · Jul 26, 2010

i am deaf in my left ear. i didn't think it would be a big problem but i was unable to hear bp correctly. i talked to the director about using an automatic bp device ( i hadn't heard (haha) about electronic stethoscopes) and she basically told me to drop out. now, after getting a stethoscope (i also have a litman 3100) that works for me and being at the top of my class i believe in fighting for you. don't ask for anyone's permission, if you need it to help you overcome your disability then use it. i was told as long as it didn't give me any advantage over the other students.

mine cost about 700$ but i was able to get a grant by going to the disability services at my school so i highly recommend seeing them.

metfan: when i read your post i thought i was reading mine but forgot i wrote it. i'm always afraid to lose it too!

feisty_lpn, LPN · Aug 17, 2010

I too have hearing loss. I've been battling a cholesteoma in my right ear for years. I've had two surgeries to have it removed and am now completely deaf in that ear. The last surgery was in July and I lost my job over it (long story, but I learned a valuable lesson).

I am so glad to know that there are other hearing impaired nurses. I've tried to keep my disability hidden because of the stigma I tend to experience when it becomes common knowledge. So many times I've been tempted to have "I'm deaf, not dumb" tattoo'd on my forehead. LOL

ChloBear · Jan 11, 2011

I agree with every one of these posts! I have had similar experiences. You don't need special permission to use an amplified stethoscope. You don't even necessarily need to disclose your hearing loss unless your school offers accommodations that you think you might benefit from. If you choose to disclose, be prepared to educate those around you about hearing impairment and how it does NOT make you an unsafe medical professional. Sometimes it's easier to just not say anything, but then you have to worry about people assuming you are rude, not paying attention, etc. Sometimes it's better just to be upfront than let others "fill in the blanks" with their own misguided assumptions. I chose to disclose to my school, but if you don't require accommodations you really don't need to. I don't understand why there is so much "stigma" surrounding this... How is it any different from someone who needs glasses?

reinclaudejenn · Jan 27, 2011

Haha.. I had too this hearing impairement.. I still hear sounds from stet, but when someone talking to me far and even near but the voice is low., i didnt hear it clear or totally hear nothing.. I just open this up to my family here in my new place, for knowing that they would understand me.. But surprisingly it didnt.. hahahaha, I regret telling them.. Know the stigma is all around my site.. And if only i wouldn't told them, i wouldn't feel this way as i do now..hehehehe... Im a RN too but don't work for now in hospital.. But the pass experienced i had, we can do our work best than others.. Coz we are much conscious if we are doing things right or even hearing it right.. hahaha