Slowing down and listening ahead
Posted By: Redpen on 2009-01-12
In Reply to: Anyone have any feedback - Lucy
These are two different things. You have to practice them separately, then eventually merge them.
As for slowing down, that should be the easiest. It means to key at a speed slow enough that you make no typos. None whatsoever--not even one.
Just practice typing one sentence until you can key it correctly without a single error. Go on to a paragraph. You'll settle on a speed that works for you.
You may feel that you are typing s l o o o o w l y, and this may frustrate you, but bear with it for a bit. Practice this every day, slowly and smoothly, giving each letter the same amount of time. No machine-gun rat-a-tat-tat. No speeding up and slowing down.
Your goal is to maintain the same boring, monotonous rate on and on and on. It shouldn't be tiring at all. You'll find it easy and restful, but you'll make better progress because you won't have to stop to fix anything.
To learn to listen ahead, you'll need to pretend that you're working on a typewriter. If you have an actual typewriter, use that. Otherwise, just assume that you CANNOT correct anything. What you type has to stay on the page forever, so it had better be right the first time.
Take a practice report. Listen to the first entire sentence without typing anything. Hold it in your head. Now type it from memory. Do the whole report that way.
You'll have trouble with whole sentences at first. You might have to do just phrases, then longer phrases, then work up to sentences.
Practice that perhaps an hour a day for a week or so. At some point, the process may click for you and you'll figure out the point behind it.
Once you can do whole sentences, you can start typing while listening. Listen to the first sentence, but this time start typing it when you have heard half or all of it. You can pause the tape momentarily at the end of the sentence if you need to, but you should be able to type continuously.
Listen listen listen . . . listentype listentype listentype type type type listentype listentype listentype type type type, etc.
It takes practice, but it's worth it.
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Listening ahead
I am just wondering if you listen ahead regardless of the length of the dictation?
I do need help increasing productivity and appreciate all suggestions. It just seems wasteful to listen for 5 minutes without doing any work. (Maybe not......others have more experience.) Feedback?
As always my thanks
On listening ahead
Listening ahead doesn't mean to listen without typing or to listen to the whole dictation first.
Older MTs transcribe this way because they had to use older transcribers which typically did not have that little backup or "instant rewind" feature. They didn't stop on a dime, either, but slowed to a stop. During the stop and start, you could lose an entire word or phrase.
MTs thus learned to stop in the pauses between sentences. They listened to the first part of the sentence, began typing after the first couple of words, then paused only to get PARTIALLY caught up. They listened ahead and typed AT THE SAME TIME.
This is a lot more efficient than the hear-a-word/type-a-word method.
It also helps to type slowly enough that you do not make any typos at all. That way, you do not have to stop and correct them. That alone saves huge amounts of time.
Poll regarding listening ahead.......sm
I am just curious how many of you listen ahead and listen word for word or character by character? I learned word for word in my training and I do think that helps my speed but was just wondering how everyone else does it. I still do word for word but I have one dictator whom no matter how far ahead I listen, they still will change an entire sentence! 
If I boil mine ahead of time, I go ahead and peel off the shell after they have (sm)
been sitting in a pan of cold water for about 30 minutes.
Slowing us down
If one person is getting great line counts, and she goes on vacation, the account may suffer while she's off. If instead two people are getting mediocre line counts, and one goes on vacation, the account does not take as hard a hit.
A phenomena that easily leads to burnout is being punished for competency by one's employer. I've run into it in other industries, but it happens here too. The more you know and the better and faster you are, the more crap work they'll send your way. If you have a good work ethic and pride yourself on conquering challenges, they'll use it against you by giving you more difficult accounts/jobs, because they know you won't wimp out and complain or quit like others might. The more efficient I become, the more extra difficult work I get. The slower people that goof off are rewarded for that with a light easy work load. Its not very fair, but its certainly been a trend in my experience.
ESL is a particular thorn, because as someone else said, everyone hates to do it. I have one dictator in particular on one of my secondaries that is just impossible. Our QA person chides us for not getting him right, sending snotty emails that we must take the time to look up his old reports, and that it doesn't take much time to do so, even though SHE often has to leave the same blanks in the report that I left, because she can't understand him either. Its a case of the emperor's new clothes - everyone knows this person is impossible, but they think by guilt-tripping us into killing ourselves over each report, somehow they'll get done. Never, never will they tell the doc HE is the problem and its his own fault his reports are such a mess. Maybe ONE report doesn't take that much time, but we don't get just one report. And yes, many reports do take a lot of extra time, and often it doesn't matter how much time you spend, he's simply indecipherable. Still, they'd prefer to try to make us feel incompetent and keep the client, while we all lose money because of him.
Slowing down Dictaphone
When I used it, it was #4, but you'll need to check with your supervisor to make sure that is the right code. Then you do ## to go back to regular speed. This worked on my current transcriber also.
I'm slowing giving up my perfectionism...SM
in that I won't search and search and search for a new/unfamiliar term. I'll do a quick search in my books and Google and maybe ask on the Word Board, but if nothing comes up, I flag it. I used to spend WAY too much time wanting to find these things, mainly because I'm pretty anal, which is generally a good thing in MT but can end up costing you $$$!
Not necessarily...metabolism slowing...
as we get older is a much more likely culprit. At 50, our metabolism is on average 50% lower than at age 16. That is why when we are young we can lose weight easily and rapidly, but as we age it's a tremendous struggle. Exercise is the key, as it not only burns calories but revs up the metabolism for hours following.
I presume you are slowing it down on your player - sm
when you transcribe, if not, obviously try that. If that does not help then either just to the best you can, alert whoever you are sending the work into of the blanks (and why), and just handle it that way. If you just don't want the hassle of them anymore then give them 2 weeks notice that you are dropping them since they cannot seem to follow a simple request and make it so you can turn into them a quality product. With my 1 puny account, I always email them while files have any blanks, and why. I am dealing with the Drs. personal asst. (not the office manager) and she loves that I do this (when I have to), the previous MT did not....just sent it in with the blanks with no heads up or explanation. Good luck!
Strike in Pakistan slowing down offshored work here. Just another example of offshore
:+
listening while listening?
You can listen to music while listening to dictation simulatniously? Or am I missing something? I used to listen to music at my old data entry job, but I didn't have to hear anything back then.
Great to see somebody else listening to Alice Cooper, though, great taste :D.
OMG! Just finished listening to a doc with the -
next thing to laryngitis! What a treat that was!
Listening to audio again.
You should hear prompts if the C-phone is programmed to allow you the option. "Press
3 to listen...punch in the job number followed by the pound sign." The audio should come back. You need to know what number they used
to program the function and the job number.
and what number they used.
I guess you were not truly listening
he/she said she was agnostic. why can't you respect that instead of pressuring, i.e., "you might like it" -- give me a break! I, too, moved to the Bible Belt recently and can't stand the holier-than-thou J-freaks. Bunch of weirdos, IMHO
Sorry, but allegations are not enough for me to just listening to them.
x
sorry, that is just stop listening to them
x
Depends on how you are listening.
I know when I had EMON and Editscript, I couldn't hear crap in Editscript but when I listed in EMON it was clear as a bell.
listening outloud
yes, I got used to doing that more than a year or two ago and that's the only way I listen now. To me, it's now hard to understand thru the headphones. My speakers are Altec Lansing Series 100 - not expensive - I believe they came with the computer in fact.
listening without earphones
I didn't think anybody else did this! Four years ago I had a benign parotid tumor removed and with my head wrapped up, I couldn't use earphones and was forced to listen without them. Then when I was all healed and put the earphones back in, what a surprise -- I couldn't hear well at all and have not used them since (I have Logitech speakers).
People here are NOT listening
If you work for a company that does not have trillion of employees, your VR will be good if most (all) do the same corrections. What you 2 have above is the worst of the worst. It will not get any better. When others post about how they love VR, do you believe them or why do you think they like so much? It is because they don’t spent most of the day doing all those corrections and their work is going smoothly.
I actually liked it better the other way, but I hope others find it useful. Thanks for listening to
X
Try picturing Baryshnikov while listening. nm
x
I get it too, also from headphones while listening to music. (s/m)
I much prefer the old, in-your-ear style of headphones, like a stethoscope. Just be careful not to stick 'em too far in, or that can hurt, too. But the cartilage definitely gets sore if something (even a phone) rests against it too long.
What a joke! Not only is that insulting, listening to that would put me right to
SLEEP!
I tried your suggestion with listening carefully
I'm not sure what I'm listening for, but I didn't notice any difference.
I think the shaded out options must have to do with the company preferences. They've probably deselected the options, which I don't understand.
Thanks for trying.
Are you in the south listening to southerns or
somewhere else. I am smack dab in the middle of the south and I hear none of what I would consider southern drawls. Mine are really fast and lots of ESLs.
You will lose this fight. No company is listening
to whiney MTs in their quest for the bottom line profits. There are too many other people who will happy to work for less just for the opportunity to work at home and then again there are those offshore who will work for even less for the opportunity to simply work, any where, any time, any place.
And as far as battles go, who you going after and how do you prove you were wronged.
Then factor in the MTs who are getting the good reports. Are they going to fight the cherry-picking unethical battle with you.
Sorry it's a lost cause and it is the nature of the business. Maybe 10 years ago you might have had a chance. Nevermore. That is reality.
Same here - will never stop listening. I do feel the crunch though
when I am backed up. I just work a little extra in the evening or on the weekend to make up for it.
When kids need or want to talk, it is best to stop everything and listen. They become more secure and confident in themselves, more productive and successful in society. I always stop whatever I am doing when my kids stand there wanting to talk to me. Mine are 17 and 14. As soon as they get in from school, in my office they come.
I am so thankful I work at home and am here for them after school. I would not trade that for anything in the world!
Listening to a cell phone conversation
My doc left his recorder on again. LOL
Who Cares? I'm listening to their music, not moving in with him.
x
I've been listening to the same song and dance for years.
Things only seem to be getting worse.
Friend suggested I type while listening to the news.
x
Decent QA will not give a quick read without listening
You are not doing your job if that is what you are doing.
I guess the old breed of getting what the dictator says is way out of style. Companies don't care and therefore need to be put out of business.
I get paid by the hour and I listen 100% to the all ESLs that I do. I also provide feedback to the MT and mentor them. Quick read is not QA. It is nothing. If you do not hear what the dictator says, you have no idea what could have been left out.
Just went out and bout The Band greatest hits and listening right now to the Weight.
Don't do anything, just tell him to go ahead and do what he
has to do. If he's not for real, the threat has been not worked. If he is for real, he MUST have documentation to prove his case, or even then it's no use taking it to court. He will file in small claims probably, if less than $5000. He must prove his case, and you don't have to do anything, bottom line.
Don't get too ahead of yourself..
You may certainly have a valid argument, but don't base it on the "fact" that rad reports are all paid by report. I have been doing rad for over 12 years now, and have yet to be paid by report. Most are by the line, and any MTSO I have worked for, rad is one of the lowest line rates compared to other work type accounts. Yes, there are companies that pay by the report, but, I surely wouldn't go so far as saying that is the "norm".
Then go ahead. Not me.
nm
Go ahead
post it! You will feel so much better and be able to continue knowing you got your two cents in. Sometimes it makes you wonder about American standards for the practice of medicine, does it not? Doesn't it make sense that in America doctors should be able to communicate properly and have a handle on the language? Accents are not what I am talking about either. I am talking about vocabulary and grammar that can possibly cause a change outcome. This is a very serious business, medicine. Those who dictate should be qualified to dictate. Amen.
So how would you know ahead of time if
problem with drinking? Don't mean to get off the subject but just wondering.
Ah, go ahead...don't be ashamed...
No one will laugh. And, most likely no one will slam you for it either. There are only a few really nasty, jealous people here. 
Go ahead and invest......SM please
Go ahead and pay for a decent program so you'll be set up. In all honesty (my opinion) you do not get the same kind of quality sound with these freebies as you do with the others. If you intend to do this job, at least get proper equipment.
IMHO
that should say *ahead of time*
x
Go ahead, tell us, what is abortion then?
x
go ahead rant!
One of my dictators smacks gum in my ear constantly and it drives me crazy because it is rude!!
thinking ahead
Yes, you are so right, be cordial and that's it. Her problems are not mine and she is very manipulative. My concern is mainly how this will affect my friendship with Patty who happens to be a very close friend of mine. Also, thinking ahead to the future, H's daughter is getting married. Wait! Before I get into this... H's daughter moved out yesterday. They had a huge fight and H kicked her out of the house. The daughter is now living with the fiance's family!!! I know they will patch it up probably in the near future... so here is my problem. About a month ago, H called me and said she is having a shower for her daughter on July 29 at 1:30 and I should mark the date. I said "I'm busy that day" and I was joking, but I wish I was busy. First of all, I hate showers and I hate Pampered Chef parties which she is also always having...and I never go !!! :)
I don't go to those. Secondly, I want to backpedal from this family as much as possible. H is the type who will never speak to me again if I don't go to the shower. All advice is appreciated. I guess if she isn't talking to me maybe she will not send the invitation... but I can't count on that.
Go ahead, argue with me on how you all think
Lets see the moral ethics flow.
Paying below poverty... minimum wage is POVERTY, yet, below that.. what a joke.
So many drs, so many specialites, can't get ahead!
Ugh, I've been working for a National for about a month now, and they keep throwing new drs and new specialities at me everyday, and it's so frustrating. My line count gets lower it seems, instead of higher. Is this normal?
I've been an MT for 10 years, but worked for a local small company until they went out of business. This national thing is completely new to me, and I'm not liking it so far. Just when I was getting comfortable about 2 weeks ago, they threw new docs and new specialities at me, and I can't seem to keep up. Very frustrating!!
go ahead girl
I know it is very fustrating when you are spending your time which you aren't paid for trying to make sure that the report is right by researching extensively. And some of the dictators are so inconsiderate like when they decide to eat while dictating and talk with the food in their mouth so it makes it hard to make out what they are saying and sometimes they arent eating anything just dont have the courtesy to make the dictation as clear as they can. I have a clinic account where some reports have to be sent back with a blank name for a cc or letter to referrring physician because there are more than one doc. with that same last name in the same city and they think you should know who they are talking about. And sometimes they may both be just general practioners so you have no idea based on their specialty either. We definitely don't get paid enough to do their research. It does make you want to just throw the reports out to get the line counts and leave blanks and let them figure it out.
you go ahead and demand that $75K
That will leave your position open for another person who doesn't think they are the MT queen. That "level of expertise" has been achieved by many hard-working individuals. They are out there with excellent skills and might be happy to take your place. Then you can spend your time pursuing something that will make you happy and allow you to feel fulfilled. I feel sorry for you that you are so bitter about your choice of employment. You still do not need to go out insulting other people and calling someone stupid. You do owe her an apology.
I would think just go ahead and apply.
If you've done acute care, you should be fine with radiology. I've never done pathology, but I would think it would be pretty similar to radiology in that they use certain tests for certain specimens. I think there's a touch of radiology and pathology in acute care reports. I do a lot of clinic and also have worked full-time radiology, and they are seem to intertwine. I would say either let your current employer know you're interested and see what happens. 
I Think I Listen Ahead
I'm old enough that I started transcribing on a typewriter. It was a Selectric, which was state-of-the-art at the time, and was much faster than a machine with a carriage. :)
My stepmother was a court reporter, and I started out transcribing court transcripts. I was thinking just the other day that I can't remember how on earth I managed, what with a baby crawling around while I was typing all day and the fact that errors were a nightmare to fix!
In any event, I had never thought about it until I read this thread, but I guess I listen ahead as I'm typing. I'm not sure what "word-for-word" means, though. Can you explain?
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