• The electronic stethoscope has advantages over the acoustic stethoscope.stethoscope image by dinostock from Fotolia.com
  
  The stethoscope has been a symbol of the medical profession for decades. This acoustic device enables doctors to listen to the sounds of the heart, lungs and intestines for diagnostic purposes. Several functions make the electronic stethoscope an attractive upgrade from the conventional acoustic stethoscope.
  
  

Amplification

• Most electronic stethoscopes give users the ability to alternate between an acoustic setting and an amplified setting with volume control. The acoustic mode electronically produces the sound of a conventional stethoscope. By using the amplified setting, doctors can listen to very faint heart sounds and compare standard and amplified body sounds.
  
  

Mute

• The electronic stethoscope can be muted with a click of a button. This prevents the ear-deafening noise doctors often have to tolerate when a patient starts to speak.
  
  

Frequencies

• Many electronic stethoscopes have a function that enables users to switch between high and low frequencies. Valve and breath sounds can be heard more easily when louder low frequency sounds are removed, and by boosting low frequencies it's possible to listen to heart murmurs.
  
  

Noise Reduction

• The noise reduction function in electronic stethoscopes drastically reduces ambient noise. This makes it easier for health workers in noisy environments to discern body sounds.
  
  

Sound Recording

• Some advanced digital electronic stethoscopes allow doctors to connect the stethoscope to an iPod, iPhone, notebook computer or digital audio recorder and record sounds. Doctors can email these recorded sounds to specialists for a second opinion.