How Is The Auscultation Test Performed?

Auscultation Test

Auscultation is basically a test to listen to the sounds of internal body organs. The test is done using a stethoscope and the results are used for diagnosing patients. The test is absolutely risk-free with no side-effects existing to help doctors listen to sounds and variations inside the body and finding some health issues. Basically, auscultation is also search for abnormal sounds in the heart, lungs or abdomen to spot health concerns and start right treatment thereafter. The test can even help with major blood vessels letting doctors know that something is not right there in the body.

An auscultation test is very helpful for diagnostic purposes and can be performed easily to know a lot of things, including –

  • The test can spot an irregular heartbeat in the heart or troubles in the digestive tract or any build-up of fluid in the lungs
  • The doctor will start the test placing the stethoscope over the bare skin to listen to each area of the body
  • The instrument is placed over different areas as the doctor will be interested in listening to different sounds for diagnostic purposes
  • While checking the heart, the doctor will place the device over the area where the heart valve sounds are the loudest
  • While checking the heart, the stethoscope is mostly placed on the chest areas above or below the left breast
  • The doctor may also ask patients to turn to the left side to listen to specific sounds in the heart
  • The heart checking is done to listen to the organ sounds, how frequency each sound occurs and about their intensity or loudness

Auscultation Test

  • The abdomen is checked to listen to bowel movements so that doctors could know what’s going in inside the intestines
  • The bowel testing may produce swishing or gurgling or no sound at all
  • The test is also done to listen to the lungs (both, left and right) and compare the two sides
  • The doctor will also compare the front of the chest with the back of the chest
  • The airflow sound is checked in the airways to find any blockage, narrowing or presence of fluid in the airway
  • The purpose of listen sounds in the airways is to spot wheezing
  • If the heart sounds are not rhythmic, the doctor may know that there may be a leaky valve or some areas not receiving proper blood
  • If unusual sound in the heart means the doctor may recommend further tests to patients
  • All areas of the abdomen are tested to find sounds and if there is no sounds, this can mean some serious health concern
  • Lung sounds can indicate whether the organ is working properly or not
  • While checking the lungs, the doctor may look for rub sounds to know the presence of irritated surfaces around your lungs
  • All these sounds are never easy to listen unless there is a high-quality instrument
  • Auscultation is made easier when a littmann device is used

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