"Low frequency sounds" Littman Classic II

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I just got my Classic II yesterday. As you may or may not know, I'm a CNA in MA school. I bought a Littman because I have hearing loss in one ear and had trouble hearing while doing BP's on the school's cheap "sprague type" stethoscopes.

Would someone be so kind as to help me out with the open bell side? I can not hear a thing using that side. I believe that it says that side is for low frequency sounds, which would be what?

The sound on the "tunable diaphragm" side is amazing. Numerous surgeries (cholesteatoma) have left me with damaged inner ear bones and hearing loss and the Littman really helps.

TIA,

Lorraine

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Low frequency sounds are heart murmurs and rubs. It takes a lot of practice to hear and diagnose murmurs and is a more advanced assessment.

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Specializes in SICU, EMS, Home Health, School Nursing.

I also have a Littman Classic II. 1st of all did you turn it to the bell side? If you did the key thing that I learned is that you cannot push down on it when using the bell. You just have to very lightly lay it on the skin.

~Christie

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I also have a Littman Classic II. 1st of all did you turn it to the bell side? If you did the key thing that I learned is that you cannot push down on it when using the bell. You just have to very lightly lay it on the skin.

~Christie

Thanks for the response. The bell side IS the side that's just open with no covering on it, right? The cheap ones we had at school weren't double sided.

Lorraine

CNA

almost MA

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Low frequency sounds are heart murmurs and rubs. It takes a lot of practice to hear and diagnose murmurs and is a more advanced assessment.

If it's a more advanced assessment, I won't worry too much about not being able to hear from it... :) I seriously can't hear a thing out of that side.

Lorraine

CNA

almost MA

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Specializes in SICU, EMS, Home Health, School Nursing.

Yes, the bell side is the one that is open. In order to use the bell side, you need to turn the end, it will click, and the hole in the center of the bell will open. If it is not turned to the bell side, you can only see metal inside of the hole and you will not be able to hear anything. It took me a little while to figure it out too.

~Christie

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Yes, the bell side is the one that is open. In order to use the bell side, you need to turn the end, it will click, and the hole in the center of the bell will open. If it is not turned to the bell side, you can only see metal inside of the hole and you will not be able to hear anything. It took me a little while to figure it out too.

~Christie

Yes, all I see is metal. I can't seem to get anything to turn though. Lordy, I feel like such an idiot! :rolleyes: I really appreciate your help btw.

Lorraine

CNA

almost MA

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Yes, all I see is metal. I can't seem to get anything to turn though. Lordy, I feel like such an idiot! :rolleyes: I really appreciate your help btw.

Lorraine

CNA

almost MA

I got it! I was trying to actually turn the bell, not the metal tubing.

Thank you so much! :)

Lorraine

CNA

almost MA

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Specializes in SICU, EMS, Home Health, School Nursing.

Your Welcome. The first time I tried to use mine, I couldn't figure it out either, so you are not alone :)

~Christie

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