Dixie EMS Dual Head Blood Pressure & Sprague Stethoscope Kit

Medical professionals use stethoscopes to monitor your health, particularly your heart and lungs. If you head to the doctor when you’re sick, chances are the practitioner will use a stethoscope to see what’s going on internally.

But you don’t have to wait until you visit a doctor to use a stethoscope. If you have children or an elderly adult in your life, you may want to keep a stethoscope on hand for those quick checks. There are plenty of good quality stethoscopes that you can use at home without medical training.

The most popular type of stethoscope used today is acoustic, which picks up soundwaves from your body, vibrating the surface of the diaphragm on the chestpiece. That vibration makes its way to the ear tips, which brings the sound to the listener’s eardrums. When you’re looking at stethoscopes, you’ll often see acoustics mentioned as a top benefit for that very reason. Acoustics play an important role in how effective your stethoscope will be, says Dr. Anis Rehman, an endocrinologist and an assistant professor of internal medicine at SIU School of Medicine.

Another feature you’ll often see mentioned is “tunability.” This refers to the diaphragm on the chestpiece. Newer acoustic stethoscopes feature a tunable diaphragm, which puts the bell-shaped piece of metal together with the diaphragm on one side of the chestpiece. Technology is also built into the chestpiece that can record sound and provide it as a digital file. These stethoscopes also have noise-canceling features in the earpieces to make it easier to get a reading.

Of course, along with all of the technical details, you’ll want to know about the comfort of the earpieces themselves. Although you won’t be wearing it for hours on end, you’ll still need earpieces that will fit snugly enough so that you can listen without distraction. Additionally, it’s important to look for a stethoscope that is flexible enough to provide accuracy whether you’re using it on a child or adult.

Dr. Rehman also advises that you should consider how easy it will be to find replacement parts for your stethoscope, since you may eventually want to replace the eartips or the diaphragm itself.

• Your first stop when shopping for a stethoscope is to check out the acoustics ratings. The higher the acoustic rating, the more likely you are to catch even the most subtle issues, such as heart murmurs or pulmonary anomalies.
• As valuable as great acoustics are, it won’t help if it’s overwhelmed by surrounding noise. Look for certain models that feature a design to insulate the noise transmission and keep out ambient sounds.
• If you’ll be using your stethoscope on children, you will want to identify a stethoscope that is designed to work well on children. Some models have an adult and pediatric side, making it easy to use it on everyone in your family.
• As you become more advanced in using a stethoscope, you’ll want a device that can give you the full range of sounds. Use light pressure on the chestpiece to hear low-frequency sounds, then increase the pressure if you want to get sounds at the higher range.
• If you’ve ever been surprised by a cold stethoscope, you know the experience can be pretty uncomfortable. Certain stethoscopes feature non-chill rims on the diaphragm to keep the experience as comfortable as possible.
• For those planning to use the stethoscope under a blood pressure cuff, look for a model that features a teardrop shape that makes it easy to slide beneath.
• Build is important if you want to make sure your stethoscope will last over multiple uses. Look for high-quality stainless steel and durable acoustic tubing.
• A good diagnosis is about more than what happens on the chestpiece end of things. There are also the two earpieces, each fitting into one of your ears. It’s important that the earpieces fit comfortably and snugly so that you can hear clearly. Some stethoscopes include earpieces that can be adjusted upward or downward by simply squeezing the ear tips. They’re designed to conform to a variety of ears for the best sound.
• As valuable as a powerful diaphragm can be, it can also lead to problems, especially for newer users who are still trying to get the hang of things. Some diaphragms can be overly sensitive, which can lead to interference if you don’t dial it correctly.
• If you want to use your stethoscope in a clinical setting, it’s important to note that certain models , although lightweight and comfortable for all-day wear, are considered entry-level stethoscopes. You may want to stick with a more advanced stethoscope.
• Hygiene is an important factor in a stethoscope. Clear earpieces make it easier to see when they need to be cleaned.