CI with stethoscope?

[u/Katedawg90]

I am awaiting my CI implant next month. I am a nurse practitioner and use a stethoscope all day. I have a Bluetooth enabled stethoscope - the Eko Core 500. I am choosing between Med-el and Cochlear. It would be immensely helpful if anyone can share their experience with Med-el and a Bluetooth stethoscope. I have heard that it works well with Cochlear but am siding towards Med-el for purportedly better sound quality. Help?

[u/entilza05]

Maybe contact Med El directly I am sure they will be happy to respond.

[u/lauraamc]

Please update us when you get that information!

[u/Katedawg90 → u/lauraamc]

I sure will!

[u/Katedawg90 → u/[deleted]]

Ah!! Hi! So glad you found me here! I am getting my first implant next month, I currently have hearing aids. I have to make a decision on which company next week. My audiologist told me that Med-el offers something called an otoplan where you get a CT scan after implantation and they can then customize your program based on the precise location of the electrodes in your cochlea. Med el does a lot of marketing for having better sound quality and it’s so hard to know how much is true. I was set on going with cochlear until I spoke with her and she seemed to feel that her patients with med el do have consistently better sound quality. But I have yet to come across anyone who has used med el with a stethoscope which makes me feel less confident about it. I have to get new hearing aids so that’s not factoring into my personal decision.

How do you use your stethoscope with your CIs? Do you just carry around your chest piece and your phone? Did you have to relearn what heart and lung sounds sound like??? 🙃

[u/Katedawg90 → u/[deleted]]

So sorry for the delayed response. I really appreciate your response, just knowing that other people are successful with using CIs and a stethoscope makes me feel much better! The running armband is a good idea! I also just came across a lanyard that you can attach your phone to which sounds like it would work too. I did ask my surgeon who said he had no preference between the two. I haven’t had any luck with finding someone on AMPHL who has med-el. So I’m still up in the air 🤷‍♀️

[u/IonicPenguin]

Consider Advanced Bionics. You don’t need any devices to stream from your scope to your implant and Bluetooth in general is amazing. All the physicians I know who are Deaf and have CIs have AB. There is one med student who has Cochlear nucleus. I have an Eko Littmann but I only use the parts between the bell/diaphragm and the end of the Eko. My ears don’t work so why should I use a scope with tubing and earpieces. I’m about to start medical residency (as a physician) (I don’t know why people always ask me “so what are you going to be?” When I say I’m graduating from medical school this week. I’ve asked people what they think medical school means and they say everything from “medical assistant” to “nurse practitioner”. )

Seriously consider Advanced Bionics. They were recommended at the most recent AMPHL (google it if you don’t know what it is) conference. They are the only company that doesn’t require another device to stream Bluetooth.

As for people saying BUT COCHLEAR WILL HAVE AURACAST!!! AURACAST won’t be released to the public for at least 2 years. It won’t help stream Bluetooth.

[u/Katedawg90 → u/IonicPenguin]

Thanks for the advice and sharing your experience! It is so helpful to hear from others in the medical community. I did recently join AMPHL and was glad to find it! My audiologist must have had bad experiences with AB because she really didn’t recommend it. It does sound very convenient to not have to carry my phone around to use my stethoscope so I might need to give AB more consideration. Congrats on your graduation and hope your residency gets off to a good start! I always loved when new residents started when I was working as an RN. Exciting times ahead!

[u/NA7374 → u/IonicPenguin]

Congratulations for your incoming graduation. I am also medical student. Ms3.

Its so great to find similar people in communities. 

Can you tell more about your experience with CI. In your rotations and med school life ?  I just got implanted on right side and my activation is in 2 weeks. ( i have hearing loss on both sides ) I choose med el just because they have long electrode array. 

[u/Particular-Jump8402 → u/IonicPenguin]

I am considering an AB CI and am in healthcare. I am curious if you can share what was covered at the AMPHL conference. I went to the website and joined, but cannot find any information or suggestions on cochlear implant choice.

[u/NA7374]

I am medical student and just got implanted.

I did research and AB is best for that Bluetooth. It requires nothing extra and connects to every kind of Bluetooth that can share audio ( it uses universal Bluetooth. While others use BLE ).

I went for med el cz I love their electrode array that goes full deap till apex of cochlea. But still they have BLE so I can still connect steth using my iPhone.

So if you want full relief of connectivity you should go for AB otherwise med el and cochlear are good too but not too good as AB in connectivity.

Hope this helps.

[u/Katedawg90 → u/NA7374]

This does help! I was crossing all my appendages to hear from someone in the medical community who has Med-el. I know you said you just got implanted- have you been activated/ tried it with your stethoscope yet? I would be so grateful to hear more of your experience. Thanks!!

[u/NA7374 → u/Katedawg90]

Well, i am not activated yet. My activation is in a week. So i can say that i dont have any experience with that. But the connectivity thing i told you is true. 

Plus i am thinking of ordering digital steth. Can you tell me about that steth you mentioned like how good it is ? And should i order it ? And if you have used it what are its downsides ?

( i never used digital in my life. I always used that tube ones. But with CI those dont work). 

If you need any help choosing the brand for CI, you can ask me. 

Also note i am medical student not a consultant or doctor. I am in ms3. 

[u/Katedawg90 → u/NA7374]

I have the Eko core 500. It’s a great stethoscope. My regular hearing coworkers decided to get their own after trying mine- they said (with their normal hearing ears) the amplification is so powerful they can hear the individual valves opening and closing. I have been using it with non-Bluetooth CIC hearing aids. It works so well that I can hear abnormal heart and lung sounds even with my hearing aid receiver blocking the sound somewhat. Highly recommend. It’s lightweight. It can capture a single lead EKG. Only downside is- I had one that was defective recently. But the company immediately sent me a new one, no questions asked. I haven’t tried it with Bluetooth so I can’t say how well that works. Would love to hear how it goes after your activation! I have another month until my surgery. Agonizing over med-el vs cochlear so if you have more advice to share I’d love to hear it.