How is a hole in the heart diagnosed?
Because of the hole, the flow of blood through the heart is abnormal. This makes noises in the heart, so a doctor can find the hole by listening to the heart with a stethoscope. If the doctor hears an unusual whooshing sound, called a murmur, this tells the doctor there could be a hole. If the doctor thinks there is a hole, you will have an ultrasound test of your heart, called an echocardiogram. Sometimes the hole isn’t found until a person is much older – when they notice they are feeling tired and breathless, and can’t find a reason for it.
