Lung Sounds

The ability to assess lung sounds is difficult for medical students. There are hundreds of respiratory illnesses and injuries that a person can develop, each with their own different sound signatures and levels of audibility. Medical students often lack a regular source of real patients to practice their auscultation skills before they become members of the professional community.

One of the burgeoning areas of medical education for future doctors and nurses is comprehensive software. The medical electronics company Cardionics, has developed both a Lung Sound Simulator (PneumoSim Digital Breath Sound Simulator) as well as software to address need to improve diagnostic skills of students studying the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. The software developed for discerning lung sounds is a CD-ROM titled Learning Lung Sounds , and it works with all Windows platforms.

Lung Sounds Software

Learning Lung Sounds features comparative tools that allow students to differentiate a simple lung problem with a serious systemic issue. Young professionals can determine quickly if the lung sounds is associated with asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis and other conditions through a collection of 200 lung sounds. Graphs, charts and other visualizations of lung ailments reinforce the knowledge students build by using this CD-ROM. Simulated X-Rays and graphic depictions of the upper respiratory system demonstrate what is happening in each disease studied.

This software program challenges students because it only allows advancement after completion of comprehensive quizzes. Users must first properly identify simple lung problems, complete an assignment and move on to the next tier of lung sounds. Instructors and medical professionals looking for a teaching tool for their subordinates will find Learning Lung Sounds a quality product.