If you need to buy a stethoscope, you need a tool that will help you work faster and better. Picking a stethoscope is an individual choice based on your own hearing and its intended use. A nurse or doctor who works with children may need to buy a stethoscope model different than those working with senior citizens. The stethoscope spends a lot of time around your neck, so picking the right one for your needs is essential.
Determine what your specific needs are. There are plenty of stethoscope models and manufacturers, but there are mainly two types used by the medical field and those are the dual and Single Head. Dual head models are used more than the single head types as they are more universal in function. They have a bell side for low frequency sounds and a diaphragm side for higher frequency sounds. The single head models usually have what's called a tunable diaphragm which in the hands of a skilled practitioner can hear high and low frequencies.
The Internet is a great place to buy a stethoscope, or try nearby medical supply facilities. Tunable corrugated diaphragm stethoscopes, for example, tend to be less durable. Many medical professionals prefer less cumbersome, lightweight stethoscopes.
Extra earpieces should be kept handy, and these can be purchased anywhere stethoscopes are sold.
When you go to buy a stethoscope, consider buying at least two stethoscopes of the same brand in case one does not give the right type of sound for your ears. Common sense and professional experience can you help determine whether a single-head or dual-Head Stethoscope best suits your needs. Buying more than one can extend the life of each.
Cheaper stethoscopes can give you poorer sound quality and can also break easier than a model that is more expensive. So don't let price be a sole determinant of which stethoscope you will buy, because this really is a case of you get what you pay for.
One particular brand of stethoscopes that comes highly recommended is the Littmann brand of stethoscopes. When you buy a stethoscope you cant get any better than the Littmann brand of stethoscopes from 3M. They all have warranties from 3 to 7 years.
Want to find out more on how to buy a stethoscope online? Then visit Joe Eagen's site on how to choose the best stethoscope for your needs.
