Where?
Upper or lower field? Right, left, or both? Anterior, lateral, posterior, or over the neck?
EMSCodeSim Breath Sound Learning Center
Listen to common breath sounds, compare normal with abnormal findings, learn where and how to auscultate, connect sounds to clinical clues, and then practice in your existing simulator.
Start here
Breath sounds are clues—not diagnoses. A strong assessment combines sound, respiratory rate, effort, chest rise, SpO₂, ETCO₂, skin signs, history, and response to treatment.
Choose your path
You will get the best page to start with and a direct link to the simulator.
Four questions
Upper or lower field? Right, left, or both? Anterior, lateral, posterior, or over the neck?
Inspiratory, expiratory, or both? Early, middle, or late in the respiratory cycle?
Continuous or discontinuous? Musical, harsh, popping, coarse, low-pitched, or diminished?
Did coughing, repositioning, suction, bronchodilator treatment, oxygenation, or ventilation change the sound?
Interactive pages
Each page teaches the concept before asking the learner to identify or apply it.
Listen to normal vesicular, wheezing, coarse crackles, stridor, and simulated diminished sounds. Then try a mystery-sound challenge.
Open sound libraryUse anterior and posterior pictures, learn the side-to-side ladder, and arrange the listening steps.
Open skills pageConnect sounds to common causes, warning signs, treatment categories, and patient scenarios.
Open clinical cluesPractice tools
Choose different left and right sounds, rotate the patient, and tap anterior, posterior, lateral, and neck points.
Launch simulatorCount chest rise and document rate, depth, effort, and pattern.
Practice respirationsConnect auscultation findings to oxygenation and ventilation data.
Open pulse ox