Parental Diagnostic Resources

Every parent should have some basic health diagnostic equipment and understand how to use it. This page will list some of those items with where they can be purchased. Also, video links on use and interpretation.

Diagnostic tools that I wish I'd known how to use when I was a young mom:

A stethoscope can be used to listen to the heart or lung sounds prviding parents with vital information about that little one. Buy a MDF Acoustica Lightweight Stethoscope, Adult, Dual Head, Free-Parts-for-Life, Black Tube, Black Chestpiece-Headset, MDF747XPBO. Learn about normal heart sounds, Heart Sounds and Murmurs, and an animation of heart sounds & murmurs
Two tuning forks 128 & 512 Hz - use to check child’s hearing or for a possible fracture. Buy a set of Sensory Tuning Forks in 128 Hz & 512 Hz plus a Black Taylor Percussion Hammer Mallet. Learn about how to conduct a tuning fork test or Rinne & Weber hearing teests, Tuning fork fracture test, and an animation of using a tuning fork to test for fractures and, since this set includes a percussion hammer, how to test deep tendon reflexes
Pediatric blood pressure cuff Learn how to interpret pediatric BP after learning how to how to take BP here or here
An otoscope for checking ears . Learn about pediatric ear exams, the inside of ears otoscopy, & diagnosing an ear infection
Pediatric Pulse oximter to check peripheral blood oxygen levels - check both hands - they should be within 1% of each other and should be 98-100% normally.
An ear thermometer can be helpful assessing if a child has a fever. Fevers are our way of building immune function so normally if a child is playing, eating, drinking, and eliminating, I take no action - per the American Academy of Pediatrics, fevers up to 104F flight infection, slows pathogens, increase blood cell soldiers, increase acute phase response, speed up recovery, protect the body & are not harmful. I do not like infrared thermometers meant to be pointed at foreheads. I do not want one pointed at my head & certainly would not want one pointed at my child.
A Penlight to check for pupillary responses or here for cranial nerves function or due to injuries like concussive hits

Notice: there are affiliate links on this page. I have to say that, but you do not have to buy these items. Some can be purchased locally & I'm actually a huge fan of keeping your spend in your own neighborhood supporting your local businesses.

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