Hey, just happened to see this post... didn't realize there were so many deaf/hard of hearing students. I'm profoundly hearing-impaired myself, and have just finished up my first year in a Chicago med school.
The stethoscope was a pretty big issue for me.. I went with a Cardionics E-scope because it seemed to get pretty good reviews, and bought the corresponding headphones to go with it... which was merely acceptable in terms of sound quality, but the headphones are very conspicuous and since I wear behind-the-ear hearing aids, there was also a great deal of feedback, which meant I had to lower the volume on my hearing aids to try to get it under control. However, I've recently found that I can connect the stethoscope directly to my FM system that I use in class, which makes the sound better and cuts out the headphones as the middleman.
As far as class goes, I use transcription and the aforementioned FM system, but overall, I wouldn't really rate the classroom experience as being much different than what you have had already. It is a great deal of information you're about to absorb, obviously, so just do your best to keep up... the hearing limitation meant (for me, at least) that I rely on mostly reading as my way of learning, as opposed to listening. The FM system is good, but since transcription is slightly delayed, I really can't do both in the classroom.
The clinical years may be a problem, as far as communicating with the patients and using phones. I can get around the phone system by asking someone else to help me, and by using text messaging. Communication with the patients -- I'm just trying my best to practice as often as I can, and will always ask a patient to repeat themselves if I don't understand something (they're usually understanding people). Surgery will be tough, with the masks... one idea is to potentially set up a computer program using the physicians' dictation program (which recognizes their voice and speech pattern) so that this may be set up in the OR.... but it's just an idea right now.
AMPHL seems to be an OK site, but I haven't really gotten much from it... not a very high-traffic site, or at least, there aren't really many deaf people in medicine checking on it every day.
The main things: be sure to ask for help when you need it... don't try to be a hero and do everything on your own. Talk to the professors or course directors about their teaching styles if you can. Also, recognize your limitations and make sure you have a backup plan in place. Congratulations on getting into med school, but don't let up -- it will be tougher than for the types of people that can sit back and absorb what people say.
I'd like to be in touch with anyone that's interested. Send me an email:
[email protected].
