With amplification capability of up to x100, the Thinklabs One Digital Stethoscope is a wonder. The steth can increase bass for sounds from the heart. This compact stethoscope comes with comfortable headphones and its sound acoustics are crisp clear.
ThinkLabs One Digital Stethoscope
Thinklabs One stethoscope is manufactured by Thinklabs Medical in Centennial, CO. This popular digital stethoscope is the smallest, most powerful electronic stethoscope in the world.
The Thinklabs One provides exceptional sound quality thanks to the patented electromagnetic diaphragm technology that it uses. Its sound is amplified more than 100 times of the traditional stethoscope. This makes the One the best stethoscope for hearing impaired clinicians.
The Thinklab One Digital is one of the best stethoscope for hearing impaired student nurses, RNs and doctors. The stethoscope some with superb quality ear buds that work perfectly with hearing aids. When wearing the stethoscope, you will be amazed by the clarity of the breath and heart sounds you will hear.
The Thinklab headphones have long cables, which allow you to let the hang comfortably around the neck when not in use. The cables do not tangle easily and are therefore convenient for use in clinics. The ear tips come in 3 sizes, for a perfect fit.
Check the video below for a review of two of the best electronic stethoscopes in the market: the Thinklabs One vs. Littman 3200.
Thinklabs Headphones
There are various headphones that are compatible with the Thinklabs electronic stethoscope. Since this stethoscope is digital, you can wear it with different headphones to achieve various results.
For example, if you want to cope with extra bass, Beats by Dre earphones will be a good option. These headphones work flawlessly for auscultations. The extra bass enabled by the headphones will allow you to hear any slight underlying heartbeats. Moreover, the headphones perform excellently when it comes to frequency response.
Another set of headphones you can use for your Thinklabs stethoscope is Bose. These noise-canceling headphones have become the standard of headphones all around the world. When wearing the Bose headphones, you will not have trouble carry out auscultations even on uncooperative patients like toddlers. The phone will allow you to work in peace as they provide clear sounds.
Teaching With the Thinklabs One Digital Stethoscope
One of the biggest benefits of the Thinklabs electronic stethoscope is in teaching. The stethoscope is shipped with an adapter known as ThinkLink. You can connect the stethoscope chest piece to your smartphone and then to your earbud/headphones through the ThinkLink. When you connect the stethoscope to your smartphone, you will not only be able to auscultate the patient but can also record the lung or heart sounds to its app or other third-party recording apps.
When teaching, residents or students can hear sounds and find out at once through a speaker as a group instead of having each student come to examine a patient multiple times.
In some clinical settings, you can attach a Bluetooth adapter to the chest piece. From there you can use Bluetooth headphones and then use the device on a patient that may have been isolated for precaution purposes. The ThinkLink also makes telemedicine easier. For example, a doctor on one end can hear the heart or lung sounds in real-time rather than waiting for a recording.
Thinklabs One is light and easy to use. If you do not like to wear the coat while working in the ER, you will immediately notice how heavy other stethoscopes have been when you switch to using the Thinklabs. The stethoscope is quite sensitive, even at the lowest settings, compared to non-digital options. You can use various headphones with the device to hear sounds better.
Using Thinklabs with Hearing Aids
The Thinklabs One stethoscope works with hearing aids. It has various options for different hearing aid styles and earphones. Therefore, you won’t be bothered to remove them when using the stethoscope. You can also use the stethoscope with a streamer and headphones. However, the stethoscope is so loud that you may not even need a hearing aid or anything else to amplify lung, heart and other body sounds.
Generally, hearing aids do not do a good job at reproducing bass sounds. Therefore, you won’t get the direct benefit of the huge power output of the Thinklabs One if it has to go through the hearing aid. To get the best quality sound with the One, make sure your hearing aid is programmed for maximum bass.
If you have an open-fit hearing aid, you can use the One with headphones. You need a good pair of headphones to get the best results from the stethoscope. The headphones should be comfortable and have a good bass response.
Thinklabs One Digital Stethoscope Features
Electronic Features
Unlike other amplified stethoscopes, the Thinklabs One Digital Stethoscope has an electronic feature: the voltage doubling charge. This allows for functions like mild distortion reproduced, in the case of S2 and S1, to peak. This feature also allows you to filter your frequently used presets.
The steth also has a One Bluetooth feature. Although not in-built, the Bluetooth feature allows you to easily attach a small transmitter to the jack of the headphones .
One drawback of the Bluetooth is that it does not work well for those with hearing aids. Because hearing aids don’t have sound amplification capability, the sound heard through them will not be as excellent as that heard directly from the steth.
The Thinklabs Stethoscope can also connect to external devices like smartphones, computers, tablets and other audio or recording devices.
Headphones
This steth comes with a sleek headphone set. If you don’t like the headphones, you can use your own, provided they have a small adapter and a flat plug. If you choose your own headphones, maybe even the in-ear ear bud type, ensure they have quality bass potential and a noise-canceling feature.
Weight
Although a bit heavier than most traditional scopes, the 14.4-ounce Thinklabs stethoscope is attractive. Moreover, the steth is not designed to be carried around the neck.
Batteries
The One Thinklabs digital stethoscope comes with a replaceable Lithium-Ion battery that can be recharged. A USB-like connection cable is used to charge it. When fully charged, you can examine 100 to 125 patients with the stethoscope.
Even better, the lifespan of the battery is a couple of years. Moreover, you can take it to the manufacturer for replacement any time you deem fit.
Warranty
This stethoscope comes with a 2 year warranty. This is less than other steths of its caliber have. However, the manufacturer sometimes offers free repairs or services on their own terms.
Price
The Thinklabs One Digital Stethoscope is affordable considering all its features. At the moment, the steth goes for (check price at Amazon). Its features make it one of the best electronic stethoscopes in the market.
The stethoscope is not the most expensive stethoscope in the world. You can compare various stethoscope prices to confirm.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a Thinklink?
This is an accessory often packed with the Thinklabs One Headphone Amplified steth. Thinklink enables you to connect your steth with a recording device via a 3.5 mm headset jack. The stethcomes with excellent quality headphones. However, you could use your own headphones if you prefer.
- How do I clean my stethoscope?
Like with all electronic stethoscopes, NEVER immerse your device in water or other liquids. Instead, clean it using alcohol wipes.
- Should I purchase spare parts for this stethoscope?
From Amazon reviews, no customers have ever required any replacement parts for their stethoscope.
Check other Questions at Amazon
Thinklabs One Digital Stethoscope Review: Should I Purchase?
Although the price of the Thinklabs One Digital Stethoscope is higher than that of quality acoustic scopes, it is an excellent option for medics with hearing challenges.
The sound quality of this steth is unmatched! The recording features also give the steth and edge over other stethoscopes. I highly recommend you buy the Thinklabs One Digital Stethoscope.
Today, more hearing impaired clinicians are opting to use stethoscopes with a headphone instead of the old-fashioned tube stethoscope. Therefore, you won’t need to feel conspicuous when using the One. Moreover, your patients will think you have the coolest stethoscope.
You can connect the Thinklabs One to a streamer (wireless transmitter) that is worn around the neck and has a wireless connection to your hearing aid. Most hearing aid companies offer such streamers. The One comes with a set capable of streamer connections. You can also connect a Bluetooth transmitter to transmit from the One to the streamer. However, for the best sound quality and simplicity, you should sue a direct cable connection.
The Thinklabs One comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. This is enough time for you to work with your audiologist and try the One in a clinical setting. If the stethoscope does not help you hear better, you can return it for a full refund. The stethoscope is a powerful solution for hearing impaired nurses and doctors.
If you are looking for more information about The One Digital stethoscope, check the Amazon page of the company. Also, read reviews of nurses with hearing impairment to find out what they think of the electronic stethoscope.
Thinklabs Electronic Stethoscope Review Verdict
The best electronic stethoscope on the market is the Thinklabs ONE. The device offers unparalleled sound quality, enabling you to hear faint murmurs and sounds of any type of patient.
The ‘scope amplifies sound to 100 times and has adjustable volume controls. You will need everything you need to hear when taking vital signs, even on difficult patients like those who are obese.
The Thinklabs ONE has an audio jack on the side where you can input your own headphones. This makes it the best electronic stethoscope for hearing impaired.
