Best Stethoscope for Hard of Hearing | Amplified Stethoscope

Eyra Abraham

For the longest time, Trevor wanted to be a nurse in a rewarding profession he’d dreamed about since he was a kid. But he has a test to complete in his upcoming vital session in a couple of weeks. He will need to complete an assessment of listening to sounds from the heart to assess a patient’s heart rate.

After using the nursing school’s stethoscope, Trevor doubts his abilities now and feels like his hearing loss is a disability that could hold him back from passing the exam. Things are feeling super stressful and tiring just thinking about his exam. Finally, he realizes that his dream and this upcoming exam are in the way of achieving his dream.

Registered nurses, veterinary technicians, emergency medical technicians, doctors, and medical students like Trevor can work in the health field. Their superpower and talent are uniquely specific and needed in the healthcare sector. In addition, they are observant of things and bring an added and heightened sense when things are not quite right.

Therefore, hearing loss shouldn’t stop people from entering the medical field, especially when technologies such as a custom stethoscope for hard of hearing break down the hearing barrier to providing medical care.

How to hear better with a stethoscope

It’s an assumption made by non-medical professionals or people interested in the medical field that the medical profession is not suitable because people with hearing loss when so many technologies and medical devices require hearing capabilities to monitor and look after patients.

However, some stethoscopes provide amplification and visual information suitable for people with varying hearing loss. These are the best stethoscope for hearing loss. Equally important, more amplification is needed if you have severe hearing loss.

Hence, someone with both mild hearing loss who doesn’t wear hearing aids and someone who has severe hearing loss wouldn’t be able to benefit from the same device, depending on their amplification needs.

Giving that amplification is a necessary start to using a stethoscope. There are two ways to listen with a stethoscope. Simply, one involves removing the hearing aids, and the other keeps them on.

Removing your hearing aids

First, you can remove your hearing aids to use an amplified stethoscope by inserting them directly into your ear. The stethoscope has significant amplification for someone with mild hearing loss and the ability to hear low-frequency sounds.

Notably, the clarity and loudness of the stethoscope are equivalent to those of those wearing hearing aids. Some medical professionals share their stethoscopes to help hard-of-hearing patients hear.

Wearing your hearing aids

If you are forced to comply with infection control policies by using contactless protocols, you might want to keep your hands from touching your hearing devices.

A hearing aid stethoscope allows you to keep your hearing aids on and connect to them wirelessly or through some connectivity.

However, it is important to note that hearing aids support sounds under a specific frequency range.

For example, the frequencies needed for a stethoscope are in the lower frequency range, typically 20-650 Hz. Unfortunately, wearing hearing aids and cochlear implants may prevent you from hearing this range.

On the other hand, unless you have hearing aids and a cochlear implant adjusted, you’ll get all the sounds you need for work.

Behind-the-ear hearing aids

Removing your hearing aids to use your stethoscope will be too cumbersome and, perhaps, not hygiene-friendly if you are touching your hearing aids and placing them down in an area that requires strict hygiene and practices.

In that case, you can keep your hearing aids on by connecting them to the stethoscope or by making a vent or hole in your hearing aid earmold. This practice is known as the Applebaum method.

In detail, the Applebaum method will allow you to use a stethoscope without removing your hearing aids. You can use the earpiece over the vent, which is suitable for people who can hear low frequencies.

Direct Audio Input, T-coil, Bluetooth or Headphones

Otherwise, you might want to keep your earmolds as is and use an amplified stethoscope to pair with your hearing aids or cochlear implant. Consequently, you can connect your device with your hearing device using a direct audio input boot available on a hearing aid.

For In-the-canal or completely-in-canal hearing aid wearer

You can swap the earpiece that attaches a stethoscope for hearing aids to stethomate tips to use comfortably with your in-the-canal hearing aids. These earpieces can fit on some stethoscopes, like Littleman.

Testing Stethoscope

If you are worried about buying the wrong stethoscope online and spending a lot upfront, you can try before committing. Some organizations will be able to allow you to test at least one of the best stethoscope for hearing problems you might have.

Firstly, the Association of Medical Professionals with Hearing Losses hosts an in-person event that allows one to try various devices to see which one is worth purchasing.

Lastly, some companies also offer a trial period.

What is a good stethoscope for the hard of hearing?

We found the five best stethoscopes for hearing impaired nurses on the market, which are favourites and widely used by people with hearing loss. As part of the product review, we compiled information and resources from people with hearing loss about their experience with the product to help you decide which is a better fit.

This post contains affiliate links, meaning Lisnen earns a small commission if you purchase from these links. Please read the disclosure for more details.

ThinkLabs

ThinkLabs is one of the higher-priced stethoscopes on the market but one that many people with hearing loss enjoy. Especially important, the functionality of this device can work with any audio-related device. Additionally, this stethoscope has the most amplification out of all the available devices.

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Key Features:

Connects to your Compilot (Phonak), UNI-DEX, Com-dex (Widex), MultiMic (Resound), audio headphones, any Bluetooth transmitter/adapter or any streamer (neck loop) for hearing aids or cochlear implant
Auto-shutoff delay to save power
Pre-set “programs” to quickly switch from assessing lung to heart sounds

Likes

Easy to use for repeat usage after initial setup
Good sound quality
No need to remove hearing aids

Dislikes

It’s not a wireless Bluetooth-enabled device. You need an audio streamer or Bluetooth transmitter to bring the sound to your hearing aids.
Works only with a 3.5mm input jack for those who wear Oticon Pro or Siemens. You’ll need to purchase an adapter to convert your streamers from a 2.5mm input jack to a 3.5mm input jack.
It doesn’t look like a traditional stethoscope.
It picks up a lot of other noises when you move it around.
With T-coil, you could get some interference from other medical equipment or pacemaker-like devices, for example, Vagus Nerve Stimulator (VNS) Implants.

3M™ Littmann® CORE Digital Stethoscope, Black Chestpiece, Tube, Stem and Headset, 27 inch, 8480

Littmann

Littmann is a popular brand in the nursing community. It offers a great entry-level device for the nursing profession or students in the health field seeking a stethoscope for general use. Moreover, it will help those who want to study the visual waveform and the actual sound. With this particularly designed Littmann stethoscope for hard of hearing, you can hear anything from faint murmurs to lung, heart and abdominal sounds.

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Key Feature

Sleek design
Noise-cancelling feature
It comes with an app to visually display the heart rate
It can pair with the Eko core device
Rechargeable battery

Likes

It works well for BTE with the receiver in the ear with adjustable earplugs to use soft, flexible ear adapters that can fit comfortably.
The sound quality is phenomenal, and the volume control is great.
It got the look of a traditional stethoscope.
Suitable for mild to moderate hearing loss
It amplifies the heart and lung sound very effectively.
It works well for people who can’t hear lower tones.

Dislikes

If you have full earmolds, you will need to remove hearing aids, which may not give you enough amplification.
Cochlear implant wearers complained it wouldn’t work for them.
Captures too many background noises
It would only work well with a good-quality headset.
To use the app, you will need to set up an account, pay a monthly subscription starting at $50/month for advanced features, and have an internet connection and app ready to use.
Can’t capture data from the app easily for later use or records
The pediatric-sized diaphragm may not work for adults.
It may be a bit heavy to wear around the neck.

EKO Duo

This attachment amplifies the sounds using other stethoscope brands like Littmann (see above). The device can perform any physical examination for heart, lung, and bowel sounds. This company actively tests hearing aid brands and users for better sound quality.

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Key Features:

It comes with an app due to its Bluetooth feature. You can see the visual information of a heartbeat on the screen.
Operates alone or can pair with another stethoscope
Smart detection system
Record visualization of heart sound for sharing
Can wirelessly listen over the Bluetooth device of your choice.

Likes

It works well with a cochlear implant.
It can capture records and share them with colleagues.
It has a good range using the Bluetooth feature.
It’s a reliable device with no need to remove your hearing aids.
It performs well for cardiac assessment.
It gives pretty accurate digital readings.

Dislikes

It needs a stethoscope to function and can be an additional expense.
It may not attach to all stethoscopes.
It will require the app open to get it started.
It doesn’t look like a traditional stethoscope

Cardionic stethoscope device — Image credit: cardionics.com

Cardionics E-scope

This stethoscope allows you to connect your t-coil, headset, and other audio devices to the jack using its 3.5mm jack. You’ll be ready to hear any sounds from lung to bowel using your hearing aids or cochlear implants.

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Key Features

Connects directly to the cochlear implant using a patch cord or t-coil
Can toggle between lung and heart sounds by pressing a button
Assess lung, heart and abdominal sounds
Uses a DAI cable or a headphones

Likes

It works well with cochlear implants.
It captures the precise sounds of the heart and lungs.
It is comfortable to wear.
It provides a broader volume range.
It offers clear and good-quality sounds.

Dislikes

There’s no Bluetooth or wireless capability.
The little earpieces in the shape of hooks behind the ears can get tangled with your face mask.
It’s sensitive to noise interference and background noises unless you wear over-the-ear headphones.
The headphones or the jack area get easily broken from wear and tear.
It takes a tad bit of time to fine-tune.
It’s longer than the standard devices and a bit heavy.

Stethee

Visualize the sound using an AI-powered device to listen to the heart and lungs of your patients. Stream sound through to your smartphone (android and iPhone are both supported) and pair your hearing aid and cochlear implants to your mobile phone.

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Key Features:

Another device specific for the vet
AI can provide cardiac and respiratory event detection
Bluetooth enabled
Rechargeable battery
Noise cancellation
Use with a 3.5 mm AUX adaptor for headphones or audio cable

Likes

It can be set up without cables using a Bluetooth streamer with Compilot.
It analyses organs within 20 seconds.
It’s lightweight.
It has the option of no listening required.

Dislikes

You’ll need permission to use your phone in the workplace.
It’s a little tricky to get the whole connection thing together.
You do need the app and phone to get started.

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