Did your physician let you use his stethoscope and listen?

How many of us had a doctor or nurse let us use the stethoscope to listen to our own hearts or the heart of a sibling or parent?

Yes, it's a good thing to do. It takes some of the mystery out of the exam for little children.

Most children like listening to their heart.

I remember my doctor letting me do this. I must have been about 5 or 6 at the time. Yes Susie, it really does help take the mystery out of the experience. I have listened to my own heart plenty of times since then - I now have 2 stethoscopes of my own - but thinking about that first time still brings a smile to my face.

I had forgotten all about doing that until I read this thread. Odd how that happens. My doctor growing up was and is a good friend of mine. I remember him telling me once that listening to your own heart is a bad idea. I believe this to be true still if you are doing so for dx measures. I guess it goes along the lines of saying that a lawyer who has himself for a client has a fool for a client no?

Mashie

I remember doing this, i also had a fisher price doctor kit from the 1980's and the stethoscope really worked (though it was molded rubber and plastic, you could put the steth part to the chest and earpieces in ear and if you listened closely could hear the thud thud of the heart. It wasnt magnified like a stethoscope is, but it was cool. I also remember being at the doctors office and the doc letting me listen with his steth.

Nope, can't say I remember ever letting my doctor hear my own heart.

I can't ever recall a doc offering as a kid. I was pretty shy and had a stethoscope hang up from a young age, so I probably would have declined anyway.

I totally remember the doctor allowing me to listen to my heart. That's probably what got my stethoscope and auscultation fetish going. Anybody else feel the same???

I do docdawg mashie why is it a bad thing? if it helps a kid relax

I never said it's a bad thing to let a child listen to their own heart. Actually I think it is a great thing. Children need to know more about their bodies and how they work. What I said was that an adult really shouldn't listen to their own for diagnosis purposes, or at least that's what I meant anyway.

Mashie

Yes indeed, during a school medical visit, a nurse plugged her stethoscope in my ears and held the chestpiece over my heart... I really frozed in place

As a child, my pediatrician once let me listen to my heart with his stethoscope. It was an amazing experience for me.

My pediatrician let me listen once to my heart during an exam. That was a nice experience for me.

I've never had the chance to listen to myself with the doctor's stethoscope...

When I was a young child my doctor never offered. But, his nurse assistant always made sure to ask if I wanted to listen and would let me listen to hers as well. I'm pretty sure this is where my fascination all started!

We never did, and i wouldn't have wanted to, then. Our pediatrician was the most frightening man on earth.

Nope...never happened to me. Never dared ask though...

When I play doctor I sometimes ask the patient if they'd like a listen to their heart. Seems about 50/50 those who say yes and those who decline.

This isnt just limited to steths... i know alot of pediatricians who make exams kid friendly, by explaining what they;re going to do before they do it. Things like the otoscope, steths, the little hammer to check reflexes are all things that the doctor can show and let the kid touch and feel before getting examined with it... it helps allay their fears imo.

Yes! A couple of times. I believe I was 4 or 5 the first time. I was kind of scared to at first, but as soon as I heard my heart, I instantly smiled. The second time, my older sister was with me. The doctor let me listen to mine again and then my sister wanted listen to it too, so she did. It was nice. 😃

I t never happened to me. i think it might have reduce my anxiety if a doctor had done it..

Never happen to me, i would like a lot, I suppouse!

This happened once when I was little. I was fascinated by it

When I was 5 or 6 and my doctor let me listen to my own chest and lungs with his stethoscope. Was really strange listening for the first time!

Mine never let me,,,but one can only wish

My pediatrician let me listen once to my heart during an exam. Maybe this was one of the key moments for my fetish.

Hi Auscultation lovers !

Did your physician ever offered you his stethoscope to listen to your heart during auscultation?

I think its big turn on but on the other side embarrassment.

At high school the School physician once offered me to listen - i was surprised and say no.

I real want to get auscultation Instruction by real open minded physician - no luck yet.

I often ask my role play patients if they would like to listen during their examination.

I do the same as rock doc and am actually quite disappointed if the patient declines but I do understand some patients like to fully emerge the patient role and don't want to swap over to the doctor role

At my annual healthcare physical, I've got into the habit of asking the doctor if I can take a listen. They are always very obliging and happy to explain what I should be listening for.

My next visit is actually scheduled for next week so I should report back how things go this time!