Cardiology with Tinnitus?!

[MedStudent219]

Hi there,

i’m currently a preclin studentand am quite interested in cardiology. Problem is that I’ve got tinnitus. It’s unnoticeable most of the time but it‘s definitely noticeable when I’m auscultating. I can still hear everything fine, just need to concentrate a bit sometimes so was wondering if I would be able to be a cardiologist? Would being a cardiologist become a problem if I become deaf at 65 or something, ie can u be acardiologist with hearing aids for sensorineural hearing loss? Thoughts would be appreciated

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[libertyyne]

Im not a cardiologist, but I figure you get enough EKG, Echo and other testing to augment what ever you are hearing. They also make digital stethescopes that help with volume etc , that may be useful.
I would think you would be fine, just make sure to take care of what ever hearing you do have and go see professionals for that.

 

[EMikate]

I have Meniere's disease and have bouts of tinnitus that last a few months to a year at a time. I have gotten pretty good at tuning it out while I am auscultating, but it does take a few seconds for me to focus on the heart/lung sounds and tune out anything else. They do make special stethescopes with hearing aids built in. Not sure if there are ones specific to tinnitus, but an audiologist should be able to help you find out! I am not going into cardiology, but I wouldn't let my disease stop me if that is what I wanted to do! Best of luck!

 

[throwaway1000000]

Doubt it will have a major affect.
Not just cardiologists, general internists, pulmonologists, nephrologists, infectious disease specialists all need to be able to have a cardiac exam down.
If you can have a basic cardiac exam down, which you will need to have, you can be a cardiologist. Sure you might be not be a cardiac exam wizard but you pick up a murmur and you get an echo.
I am speculating here but feel portable ultrasounds will probably take over stethoscopes especially for the initial physical exam. So that's there too.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

I've got tinnitus from the military, and I've been able to pick up some pretty subtle things with a good stethoscope. Our proctor for our echo lab told us that no matter what, if you hear something weird or you're concerned for something, you're going to get other testing anyway. So I wouldn't worry about it.