Stethoscopes + Hearing Aids = :( Help~

[LKokonut]

i am trying to find a stethoscope that will be patient (esp peds) friendly and will work with a BTE hearing aid. i have a 50dB loss in my L ear, and my R ear is totally nl.
i have looked into the E-scope, but am wondering about how good it is in terms of durability and sound quality (in comparison to say, a littman). i REALLY do not want to use the 80s style headphones; i prefer the direct-audio-input because it looks much more streamlined.
i have never worn a ha, so a new stethoscope and a hearing aid is a little daunting change all at once. any suggestions?

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[Bobblehead]

I have no personal experience with the Littman electronic stethoscopes but you may want to check them out:

http://www.3m.com/us/healthcare/professionals/littmann/jhtml/e3000.jhtml
http://www.3m.com/us/healthcare/professionals/littmann/jhtml/e4100.jhtml

Here's an article from Google addressing hearing loss and stethoscopes.

http://www.amphl.org/articles/rennert2004.pdf

 

[erin682]

One of my preceptors had some hearing loss and he used an electric stethoschope for that purpose. He didn't use it with a hearing aid but apparently it increased the volume quite a bit.

 

[MattD]

My cardiologist uses an amplified stethoscope, although I'm not sure what brand/model. If a cardiologist of all people can get away with using one, the sound quality must be adequate. I don't think he uses it along with a hearing aid though, so this post is pretty much worthless. Sorry!

 

[Nightengale]

Here's what people came up with the last few times this question came up:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=217597&highlight=hearing+aid

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=193905&highlight=hearing+aid

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=183604&highlight=hearing+aid


(there are links in these threads, and also advice/ideas)

 

[FMGP8P]

i am trying to find a stethoscope that will be patient (esp peds) friendly and will work with a BTE hearing aid. i have a 50dB loss in my L ear, and my R ear is totally nl.
i have looked into the E-scope, but am wondering about how good it is in terms of durability and sound quality (in comparison to say, a littman). i REALLY do not want to use the 80s style headphones; i prefer the direct-audio-input because it looks much more streamlined.
i have never worn a ha, so a new stethoscope and a hearing aid is a little daunting change all at once. any suggestions?

Hey LKokonut

Like you, I wear hearing aids and need to buy a stethoscope that will accomodate them. Except my hearing aids are Mini-canal size (between ITC and ITE). This semester I've had no success finding a physician who wears hearing aids and uses a stethoscope. I'd really like to meet someone with first-hand experience on this topic but apparently not too many physicians wear hearing aids and use a stethoscope.

I recommend finding a hearing aid specialist that sells stethoscopes. They usually have many different types that can try before you buy. That way you can try it out and see which one is more comfortable and provides the best sound. The only problem I see for myself right now is that I don't know what sounds to listen for as I have only completed one quater of med school so far.

Another option to widen your selection of possible stethoscopes is to get ITC or even possibly ITE hearing aids. With these hearing aids, though not so much with ITE, you can attach a molding to the ear piece of the stethoscope and wear an amplified stethoscope normally.

Good luck with your endeavors and let me know if you learn anything else about this topic.