Listen first: How auscultation helps diagnose and create a connection

As we make rapid advances in healthcare technology, the art of listening remains a clinician’s most human, and often lifesaving, skill. Data from 350 U.S. clinicians reveals what many of us sense: digital tools are helpful, but nothing replaces the insights and connection that come from listening closely to a patient’s heart and lungs — and to what they say.

A trusted tool for listening

Auscultation — listening to sounds from the heart, lungs or other organs, typically with a stethoscope — remains a key skill for diagnosis. When asked whether they’ve ever identified a critical condition through auscultation, 77% of clinicians surveyed responded “yes.”

A NICU nurse who was part of the study reported that she admitted an infant who appeared healthy to the NICU because she “identified an extremely low, abnormal heartrate.” Another nurse diagnosed a “spontaneous pneumothorax in a young, otherwise-healthy man who was riding his bicycle when he became abnormally short of breath.”

The right tools also make a difference. A majority of clinicians surveyed chose acoustic clarity or acoustic performance as the most important attribute when selecting a stethoscope. And 92% of survey respondents call the stethoscope one of their most trusted tools. When asked to name a stethoscope brand, 99% of clinicians surveyed think of Littmann® Stethoscopes first.

Listening to understand

Beyond technical skills, listening is essential for patient connection. According to the survey, 81% of nurses believe listening is one of the most important ways to build trust. 

One nurse shared, “Sometimes you get the most information when you are just talking with the patient instead of interrogating them.” Even with so many technological advances in healthcare, the simple act of listening can support not only diagnosis, but also compassion.

More than 90% of clinicians agree or strongly agree that their first role as a care provider is to listen to understand before making a diagnosis. A 55-year-old primary care physician responded with advice he first heard from a mentor: “Listen more than you speak,” and says it still shapes how they approach care. At Solventum, we see your commitment to listening and learning. We’re proud to create clinician-inspired solutions designed to elevate every exam and conversation — solutions like Littmann® Stethoscopes, which have empowered clinicians for over 50 years, and support sharper hearing and greater confidence at the bedside.