What options are currently available to hearing instrument wearers who use a stethoscope? Removing hearing instruments prior to using a stethoscope is certainly an option although not necessarily the most ideal solution. In the absence of a commercially available Bluetooth stethoscope, consider the following solutions for medical professionals who want to keep their hearing instruments in the ears during auscultation procedures. For custom hearing instrument wearers, option one involves replacing traditional stethoscope earpieces with special adapters called stethomate tips. Option two involves having special earmolds designed to interface with CICs or ITCs, serving as an interface between the hearing instruments and the stethoscope earpieces. Option three entails investing in a modified version of the E-Scope II amplified stethoscope specifically designed to interface with custom hearing instruments via headphones.
The primary option for traditional BTE wearers also involves the modified E-Scope II with a pair of headphones. Rather than headphones, another option involves interfacing the modified E-Scope II to BTEs via direct audio input (DAI) or, in the presence of a t-coil, an induction earhook. For open fit or RITE BTE wearers, any commercially available, stand-alone stethoscope may work without special modifications or accessories. The other viable option in this instance is to go the E-Scope II route with the use of headphones instead of traditional earpieces. For more detailed information, access the article by A.U Bankaitis on Amplified Stethoscope Options for Professionals with Hearing loss from AudiologyOnline.
are you able to recommend a stethoscope which can be hooked up to M494 Aftershokz headphones please. I have conductive hearing loss and need to to be able to listen for heart sounds to verify deaths.
not sure what kind of jack the M494 headphones have but the TL-One (Think Labs One) amplified stethoscope is what I would recommend
Dr. Bankaitis;
I have the e-scope 7700 electronic stethoscope. I am a veterinarian. I also finally got in the ear hearing aids. I have to remove the aids to use my stethoscope….which becomes an issue when I’m seeing appt. after appt. I end up just leaving the aids out and struggle through conversations with clients. Are the stethomate tips a suitable alternative before I break down and get the head phone stethoscope?
I have been diagnosed with low frequency hearing loss (licensed audiologist) which I am told is less common. I can hear most conversations in quiet environments. I have struggled with heart sounds with a standard stethoscope for years and have used the e-scope happily for the last 4-5. Dog and cat heart sounds are complicated by haircoat thickness as well, so you can imagine how I sometimes have issues. But now I have decided to get the aids because I’m frustrated in more and more social situations with hearing many voices…particularly male voices and people who tend to speak more softly…elderly people. I hear children and women’s voices the easiest. Interestingly, teenage boys who tend to mumble, are the worst.
Based on what I have seen returned back to us, the success rate of stethomate tips is less than 30%. Here is a link that posts my quick answer for an Ask The Expert section at AudiologyOnline (under the options for ITC/CIC users) http://www.audiologyonline.com/ask-the-experts/stethoscope-solutions-for-hearing-aids-436
Curious what model hearing aid you have (is it a RIC/RITE, custom product like an In-the-ear or CIC? traditional BTE?). I assume you are wearing a custom product. Do you use a streamer? I am asking only from the perspective of offering possible alternative suggestions.
I’m trying to locate a type of stethoscope that would be available to someone with bilateral cochlear implants. Our goal is for her to be able to do blood pressures. What type of stethoscope would she need? Are there additional pieces needed to make it work?
Mary:
This is going to be quite the challenge as I have worked with cochlear implant patients in my past clinical life but never had to address an amplified stethoscope in this situation. Based on what I have heard and read, the E-Scope II with Direct Audio input may be the way to go. AudiologyOnline posted an Ask the Expert Question and a bilateral cochlear implant user offered that as a suggestion. here is the link: http://www.audiologyonline.com/ask-the-experts/using-stethoscope-with-cochlear-implant-271
You may also want to read a previous blog post of mine that has links to other good info including AMPHL. here is the link: https://aubankaitis.com/up-to-date-info-on-amplified-stethoscopes/
I wish I had THE answer for you based on my experience; I hope this helps.
Pingback: 2010 in review | A.U. Bankaitis's Blog