Stethoscope Earpiece Amplifiers?

[skinnedknees]

i've been told that earpiece amplifiers exisit, but i can't find them. the only thing that i've seen are entire stethoscope sytems between $300-400. i sometimes have trouble hearing the first beat in bps and was told that these might help.

any suggestions?

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

I've never heard of them.

Have you borrowed someone's GOOD stethoscope? I am moderately deaf and have no trouble with a Littman vs a cheapo student scope.

[skinnedknees]

I have/use a Littmann.

[TeresaB930, BSN, RN]

Check with an audiologists office. I had an ear infection 1st quarter of the nursing program, couldn't get signed off on BP's. I was finally referred to an ENT, he scooped wax out and prescribed Anti-biotics. I stopped at the audiologist desk in the same building as the ENT. I was so frustrated of unable to hear the beats, I inquired, and they told me they could order amplifiers for stethescopes.

Good luck!

Teresa

[CarrieH]

i've been told that earpiece amplifiers exisit, but i can't find them. the only thing that i've seen are entire stethoscope sytems between $300-400. i sometimes have trouble hearing the first beat in bps and was told that these might help.

any suggestions?

i don't know if this actually works or not, but i found a amplifier diaphragm for $6 on image911.net -

http://image911.net/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=176

unless you have actual hearing loss, you might want to try some of your co-workers stethoscopes. some people hear better with a sprague type or with different earpieces (i prefer soft). the littman cardiology iii is pretty clear (borrowed this one from a doctor once) and is about $130.

otherwise, there are a couple of electronic stethoscopes for just over $200, maybe you can find one on sale or clearance. i worked with some one who had a little hearing loss and loved her welsh allen electronic. it even had a cute little heart symbol that would flash with the heartbeat.

[Tait, MSN, RN]

I was having issues with my Littman and hearing subtle heart murmurs so I bought this:

http://www.mystethoscope.com/thinklabs-ds32a-digital-stethoscope-p-118.html?gclid=CIGwjqLuspcCFQKJxgodsnLNjA

I like it, and can hear well, however I often turn OFF the amplification because it tends to have a lot of white noise.

It's a fair price, however the earpieces are starting to spin around wierd and I have to often fix them.

Moral of the story? Electronic stethoscope = good. My specific one just might not be the best.

Tait