Customer Reviews

Braun Thermoscan Ear Thermometer - IRT4520

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

Having spent well over $200.00 buying ear thermometers, none of which were accurate or dependable I asked the nurse at my MD's office which one she was using, she said Braun. I searched the Braun ear thermometers and decided on this model and I have not had to search anymore. It is easy to use, results appear in seconds that are reliable, and it comes with a holder from which you just pick it up, use, and put it back on the holder till the next time it's needed. I am about to buy a 2nd one so there will be one on each floor. I highly recommend this product, the others I tried did not come close to measuring up to this one.

I have a preemie who's temperature needs to be monitored pretty much constantly. At every diaper change we were taking axial temps with one of those standard digital thermometers. TORTURE! Took forever and baby screamed her head off the whole time. Then my sister got this thermometer for us and it is fabulous.

What we like:
1. When baby is screaming, the light blinks and then goes solid when temp is done, great when you can't hear the beep.
2. It truly does take a second unless baby is thrashing about.
3. Produces a long beep when you are taking your own temperature, no guesswork about when it's finished which is an improvement over earlier models.

What we don't like:
1. Preemies have TINY ear holes. So we have had to wait till our baby's ear was big enough to be able to use this thing.
2. The lens covers are a pain to switch out and keep on hand, it would be nice if there were a way to just sanitize the lens after each use.
3. We see a discrepancy of almost one degree between the left and right ear which makes us question the accuracy somewhat. The enclosed brochure explains various causes of this, but that doesn't help when trying to determine what exactly your baby's temperature is.

We have done both the axial and ear temp and found that the right ear on our baby corresponds with the digital thermometer's reading on her armpit. However, the enclosed chart shows the variances between oral, rectal, axial, and ear temperatures which make it somewhat confusing. So we alternate between the digital and the ear thermometer just to be sure.

I personally WOULD recommend this thermometer for older babies and kids, just be sure that you test it out when kids are healthy to figure out your baseline and what is normal. It takes some investigation to develop your method based on what your needs are, but it is a nice, quick to use product and my family LOVES using it for adult temperature readings. We think we will be happier with it when baby is bigger and we are using it for sick readings only.

I purchased this thermometer based on recommendations from two friends. I had difficulty taking the temps of my six month old by myself as you have to pull their ear slighly up and back in order to take an accurate temp. I had to try it several times with the help of my husband to get the hang of it. I like how a beeping sound is made once the temp has been recorded. It also has a memory feature have not used yet. One more thing ~ I accidently dropped it in the kitchen sink (in a bowl of soapy water). I picked it up quickly and set it on the counter. After two days, it had dried out and is working normally again.

I am very impressed with this thermoscan. I have a 22 month old son and taking his temperature before was a nightmare. Now within seconds I have an accurate reading.

It works well for children and adults. The only thing that takes some practice is the positioning in the ear so that you get accurate temperature readings.

My wife purchased this digital thermometer after pouring herself over hours of research and reading. Being an audiophile and a Registered Nurse, she's one of those people that reads the manual on everything first, never makes an impulse purchase and often times calls the company directly via the phone numbers listed on the packaging (which she usually copies down in the store).

I had purchased a different thermometer for her as birthday present, but that's a whole other story. Needless to say the Braun Thermoscan Thermometer was her preferred choice. The reasons are thus:

1.The readings this device give are the most accurate for any ear thermometer on the market at any price. This should be the most important reason - all - the time.
2.The sterile caps are a necessity and even if you're only using the device on one child you should do everything in your power to cut down on ear infections.
3.The reading it takes occurs very quickly.
4.The beep is more for me than it is for her, which she thinks is a must. Removing the device early is a common mistake.
5.The 'ease of use' makes taking an ear reading a simple matter. Easier than oral, rectal or armpit and a world of difference over the newer Temporal Thermometers.
6.The storage of 1000 readings which is a blessing when you have to look back at the data, and some of us do.

My son likes this thing so much he quickly figured out how to stick it in his own ear a few times and press the button and wait for the beep, which caused my wife to scowl and panic, but of course I just thought my son was gifted like all foolish parents out there.

The cost of the small plastic filters is incredibly minimal as is the actual cost of the device itself. Sure, you can go to Target or Wal-Maze and buy yourself another cheapie, but then you'll be back exactly where you are now sometime later ... looking for a dependable and accurate ear Thermometer.

This is currently the best.

... ...

I liked this item at first. Then the readings began to vary wildly, so much so that I would measure my child temperature three times and average them because each reading could vary by up to three degrees. Then it stopped working altogether. Today, it only reads "POS" instead of displaying a temperature.

Since this thing is now bound for the landfill, I think Braun could improve the next model by making it biodegradable.

BTW, Brian Carey, who also reviews this, has his review posted about 300 times on multiple sites on the internet. Could he someone that is paid for reviews or is he really that passionate about Braun digital thermometers?!

I almost didn't buy an ear thermometer because my Pediatrician will only accept an rectal temp but my kids are too squirmy for that - even when they are sick. However, every time I have taken a rectal temp the temperature has matched the ear temp exactly. In the middle of the night, when my daughter is crying so hard that she can't talk - it is a life saver. I know within 3 seconds if I am dealing with a suprise fever or a just a bad dream.

I have owned this only for a month or so. No problems using it, I found it easy to use. Seems accurate and consistent. The case is really nice and helps protect from dust. I think the price is on the high end and therfore 4 stars

I have had a Braun Thermoscan PLUS ear thermometer for more than a year now to go with my adorable blond two year old chaos maker. It has made my life so much easier. Just a couple of seconds in the ear, a beep, and it has a reading of his temperature.

We pop this in our diaper bag if were going to be away over night. We just came back from a week in Orlando at Disney World (we live in Seattle). Boy was I glad that we had this nifty little bugger along. The third day my son and I both came down with a serious throat infection requiring antibiotics. We were able to repeatedly check the nine members of our family traveling with us in just a couple of seconds each.

When my son is sick he comes to us and says "Beep Beep Momma Papa." It is his way of telling us that he thinks he needs us to check his temperature. He doesn't mind at all.

With an under the tongue or under the arm thermometer my son couldn't sit still long enough for me to be sure I had gotten an actual reading, especially when he was really sick. Also, it had to be sterizlied between each use. Which was a pain if we were all sick at the same time. AND they are SOOOO uncomfortable. Bleh.

Drawbacks to the Braun ThermoScan Plus:

You have to buy the little plastic covers for the ear piece. If you don't have one (because your two year old has spread them around the house) then it wont work.

If the batteries aren't completely charged you may get false readings and it wont necessarily tell you it needs new batteries.

It's a little tricky to get the hang of pulling the ear and pushing the button at the same time. I usually do the temperature 3 times (getting slightly different readings) to make sure I didn't make a mistake. Even so, it only takes a couple of seconds each time.

It's bigger than a traditional thermometer to pack, about the size of a thick paper back book. (now I'm really nitpicking)

Braun IRT 4520 Ear Thermometer is an excellent device for taking temperatures, especially in small children and infants. Most families have an oral thermometer and some use other types, like rectal or those that are placed under the armpit. These other thermometers are generally ok with certain age groups but when it comes to the very young, an ear thermometer is the best option. And the Braun IRT 4520 is one of the best on the market.

This thermometer gives accurate results in about 30 to 45 seconds. They way it accomplishes its task is by using infrared technology to measure the level of heat generated by the eardrum and other tissue. Some may question the ear as an accurate place to measure ones' body temperature but according to many medical experts, the ear actually provides greater accuracy than oral and other types of thermometers.

Of all the pluses with this device, the most important among them is the ease of use. Babies generally don't like anything placed inside their ears but they don't resist this type of thermometer like they do others. I had tried using the armpit style thermometer but the squirming and crying was too much. With this, there is still a little bit of annoyance for both your baby and you but it is nothing compared to the aggravation caused by other types of thermometers.

On occasion, this thermometer may have a problem producing an accurate measurement and when it does, it will let you know on the display panel. For example, if the tip isn't inserted properly in the ear, you will get the error code "POS", indicating that the positioning is not secure. If the surrounding air is too hot or too cold (needs to be between 50 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit), you will get the "Err" error message. If a person's temperature is far too high or too low, (outside the 93.2 to 108 degrees Fahrenheit range) you will get "HI" or "LO". If this happens, don't panic- chances are you didn't insert the thermometer correctly or the filter isn't clean. Replace the filter if necessary and try again.

One of the many nice things about this device is that it comes complete with batteries. This may not seem like a big deal but it is no fun when you buy a new electronic device, race home, and discover you forgot the batteries. Braun knows that when people buy a thermometer, it is usually because they need to use it immediately. They don't want the unexpected surprise of having no batteries. Braun includes these for your convenience. And the fact that the batteries are ordinary AA is also convenient because this type of battery is easy to find.

Yet another plus with this thermometer is that it stores the last temperature in memory. This temperature will display when you turn the unit on, allowing you to see the last reading and compare it to the reading you are about to take. This is nice because it takes the guesswork out of the task. Often, a pediatrician will ask if you know the previous temperature so that he/she can make comparisons and check progress in the case of illness. With this device, it is right there, on the panel when you turn it on. And when you take a new temperature, the reading remains on the screen for sixty seconds for your convenience.

Could this thermometer be improved in any way? Well, I can only think of a few minor things. One would be a gripping surface- perhaps a small section around the middle with a rubber covering to help consumers hold the device more firmly in place. Another possible improvement would be a lighted display panel, just in case you need to use the thermometer in a dark place. These and other changes could make the thermometer even more appealing, but they are minor and shouldn't count for much in a buying decision.

To keep things as sanitary as possible, it is important to always replace the lens filter before each use. This is a small plastic cap that fits over the tip of the measuring device and it needs to be replaced after each use. These replacement filters can be purchased in most drug stores and on- line at a cost of less then ten dollars for a pack of forty. This is an added cost for owning this type of thermometer. But any type of thermometer is going to include its share of cleaning/sanitation costs so, again, this shouldn't have too much affect on one's decision to buy.

Overall, this thermometer has proven itself a godsend for me and my family. The ease of use, the memory storage of the last temperature reading, and the long battery life (about two years or 1000 measurements) make this a must have for anyone with babies or toddlers. It eliminates much of the fussiness and frustration common with other thermometers and even though it carries a hefty price tag, it is worth the extra cost.