Hearing Aid Guide
Thinklabs One electronic stethoscope addresses the specialized needs and unique challenges of hearing impaired medical professionals. Because One offers unparalled amplification, connectivity and adaptability, you can create a custom solution for auscultation that meets your individual needs.
(Scroll down for more information on each hearing aid style.)
Hearing Aid Style | Streamer | Headphones | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
Cochlear implants | Streamer/electrical connection. Program for strong bass output. | Yes - Use over-ear headphones (surrounding sound processor) | Subject to individual testing. Work with your audiologist. |
Open fit BTEs | No. Not recommended. | Yes - Use on-ear or over-ear. Sound is transmitted directly to ear drums | Expect excellent sound. 100x amplification compensates for hearing loss. |
Closed fit (BTE - receiver above ear) | Yes. Program for strong bass output. | Yes - Use over-ear headphones. Sound transmits via hearing aid receiver. Program hearing aids for strong bass output. (2) | Quality depends on bass response of hearing aid. |
Closed fit (CIC, ITC, BTE - receiver in canal) | Yes. Program for strong bass output. | Yes - Use on-ear or over-ear. Sound transmits via hearing aid receiver. Program hearing aids for strong bass output.(2) | Quality depends on bass response of hearing aid. |
No Hearing Aids | N/A | Yes - Use earbuds, on-ear or over-ear | Expect excellent sound. 100x amplification compensates for hearing loss. |
1. Streamer connects to Thinklabs One via a cable included with the stethoscope.
2. If closed-fit provides an opening for some sound to enter the ear, headphone bass can transmit directly, which is helpful at low frequencies.
No Hearing Aids
With a standard 3.5 mm jack, One connects to any headphones and because it has over 100x amplication, One is loud enough to compensate for hearing deficits. It will blow you away with maximum bass response - which is critical in listening to heart and lung sounds. Use One with headphones that offer strong bass; we like Beats Executive over-the-ear or Bose SoundTrue on-ear.
EARBUD HEADPHONES
A lightweight and comfortable option included with the One.
ON-EAR HEADPHONES
This headphone style fit onto the ear and provides a good seal.
OVER-EAR HEADPHONES
This headphone style has larger cups that completely cover the ear.
Open Fit BTE Hearing Aids
Open-fit hearing aids are mostly prescribed for high-frequency hearing loss and do not reproduce bass well. Therefore, they do not amplify low-frequency vibrations, like heart sounds. However, the open-fit style has the distinct advantage of allowing external sounds to travel directly to the eardrums, bypassing the hearing aids. You can therefore use headphones over your open-fit hearing aids. The One, driving good headphones, will produce excellent sound at a high volume, making it unlikely that you will need further amplification from your hearing aids for auscultation. Choose headphones that provide good bass. We don't recommend using a streamer with this type of hearing aid, as much of the audio will leak away from the open ear canal, making the hearing aids ineffective for bass reproduction.
ON-EAR HEADPHONES
Drives sound directly into eardrums, offering a
compact solution.
OVER-EAR HEADPHONES
Drives sound directly into eardrums and covers hearing aids, reducing ambient sound.
WITH STREAMER
NOT RECOMMENDED
Bass leaks out of open-fit
style hearing aids.
Closed Fit BTE Hearing Aids
Closed-fit hearing aids reproduce bass better than open-fit aids, but the sound depends on individual hearing loss, hearing aids, and whether the hearing aids are programmed for low-frequency reproduction. You can use headphones over closed-fit hearing aids or connect via a streamer. The closed fit requires that all sound to the eardrum goes through the hearing aid itself. The One, driving good headphones, will produce excellent sound at a high volume, which will then be picked up by the hearing aid recever, amplified and reproduced in the canal by the hearing aid speaker. Hence the dependence on hearing aid bass reproduction. To use a streamer, connect One via a cable that's provided by Thinklabs. The hearing aid is still required to reproduce the auscultation sounds. Many users find these solutions to be very effective. We recommend testing and fine tuning this solution with your audiologist.
ON-EAR HEADPHONES
Receiver-in-the-canal (RIC) picks up headphones sound, reproduced by hearing aid speaker.
Program aids for strong bass.
OVER-EAR HEADPHONES
Same as on-ear option, but covers hearing aid and drives sound to top mic as well.
WITH STREAMER
Connect One to your streamer via the cable we provide. See streamer section below.
ITC, CIC Hearing Aids
ON-EAR HEADPHONES
The receiver picks up headphones sound, reproduced by hearing aid speaker.
Program aids for strong bass.
OVER-EAR HEADPHONES
The receiver picks up headphones sound, reproduced by hearing aid speaker.
Program aids for strong bass.
ITC or CIC seal the auditory canal in the same way as Closed-fit BTEs discussed above. The same guidelines apply.
(See Closed-fit BTE above.)
Using the One with a streamer
One works with streamers to deliver sound directly to your hearing aids. The streamer, manufactured by your hearing aid company, transmits sound to your closed-fit hearing aid. One plugs into the streamer, worn around the neck, which then transmits wirelessly to hearing aids. Many users find this to be an elegant auscultation solution. Simply connect One to the streamer via the cable provided by Thinklabs. Work with your audiologist to program your hearing aids for strong bass output. Just plug One into a streamer and you're ready to practice! Please note: a streamer is not recommended for use with open-fit hearing aids, as much of the audio is lost. Again, results vary greatly from person to person so we encourage you to work with your audiologist for optimal results.
Bluetooth transmitters - We are sometimes asked whether a Bluetooth transmitter could be paired with the streamer to eliminate the cable between One and the streamer. We don't recommend this, since the sound quality is diminished by adding another radio hop to the system and adds unnecessary complexity to the setup.
Listening to the One with Cochlear Implants
One has a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, the same as cell phones, music players and similar devices. Cochlear implant wearers may simply choose to wear over-ear headphones, or they can utilize the Personal Audio Cable provided by Cochlear to connect One with the sound processor in the CI system.
If you wear the Nucleus 6 Cochlear Implants, you can use the Cochlear MiniMicrophone, which transmits wirelessly to the CI. In this case, One is connected by a cable to the MiniMic, which then transmits wirelessly to the CI. Wearers of older models can connect to One using the personal audio cable.
Using external devices wtih CIs is very specific to each individual user's hearing, CI settings and other factors. Our advice is to test One with your CIs and work with your audiologist to get the best possible results.
NOTE: The Cochlear MiniMic is also compatible with ReSound and Beltone hearing aids.
