Currently viewing Vol. 6 • Issue 2 • 2019

Amplified Stethoscope Bullet Points – Quick Reference Guide

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Reprinted with permission from Bankaitis, A.U. (2019, February 13). Amplified Stethoscope Bullet Points – Quick Reference Guide [Blog post]. Retrieved from http://aubankaitis.com/amplified-stethoscope-bullet-points/

Configuring a hearing instrument with an amplified stethoscope comes with inherent challenges. Currently, there is no magic bullet offering an easy, straightforward solution. Furthermore, the two configuration options offering the most promise in terms of a working solution are either 1) not desired (i.e. remove hearing instruments during auscultation) or 2) rejected due to undesirable aesthetics (i.e. use of over-sized headphones during auscultation). The following is a quick reference guide on amplified stethoscopes and hearing instruments.

Things to Know and Appreciate

  • hearing instruments and ear pieces of traditional amplified stethoscope compete for the same ear canal space, often requiring alternative configurations;
  • heart sounds essential for differential diagnosis (70–120 Hz) are lower than the low frequency setting limits of hearing instruments (100–250 Hz);
  • basic physics of sound precludes configuring an amplified stethoscope with and open-fit hearing instrument via streamer because an open ear canal allows low frequencies to escape; therefore, over-sized headphones are necessary but something the user does not want to do;
  • currently, a Bluetooth amplified stethoscope specifically designed to stream auscultation directly to hearing aids in real time is NOT available;
  • the biggest challenge in offering amplified stethoscope solutions to hearing instrument users is establishing realistic expectations as the hearing industry currently does not offer appealing or straight-forward solutions to this need.

Options as a Function of Hearing Instrument

  • Custom hearing instruments, no streamer
    • Amplified stethoscope with pair of headphones
    • Stethomate tips (adapters for stethoscope ear pieces). NOTE: low success rate with common complaints of discomfort and/or inability to line up sound port of hearing instrument with opening of the stethomate tip
    • Take hearing instruments out during auscultation
  • Open-fit or RIC instrument, no streamer
    • Try traditional stethoscope while wearing hearing instruments to see if configuration tolerable. If comfortable fit, proceed with hearing instrument programming as needed
    • Try Think Labs One (TL-One) amplified stethoscope while wearing hearing instruments using earbuds included in packaging. If comfortable fit, proceed with hearing instrument programming as needed.
    • Try TL-One or E-Scope II with over-sized headphones while wearing hearing instruments
    • Take hearing instruments out during auscultation
  • Streamer
    • True open-fit situation
    • Configuration with streamer NOT recommended
    • Try TL-One with packaged insert earbuds
    • Try TL-One or E-Scope II with over-sized headphones
    • Take hearing instruments out during auscultation
    • Custom or occluded BTE situation
    • TL-One or E-Scope II with over-sized headphones
  • MFi Hearing instruments
    • Eko-Core, an amplified stethoscope specifically designed to stream auscultation recordings directly to Bluetooth enabled hearing instruments, theoretically should work. NOTE: streaming in real time is not possible per the manufacturer
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About the author

A.U. Bankaitis, PhD, Vice President of Oaktree Products, Inc. in St. Louis, MO.

Dr. AU Bankaitis is the leading expert on infection control in the hearing industry. She earned her PhD from the University of Cincinnati in 1995 where her research publications on HIV and the auditory system led to a niche expertise in infection control. Since joining Oaktree Products as Vice President in 2004, she is a recognized resource to the hearing industry. Her extensive clinical and business experiences allow her to provide straightforward, practical solutions to providers and business owners. If you have had questions about infection control, you probably have reached out to or been referred to Dr. Bankaitis.