It IS dreadful and that's ok!
Posted By: Redpen on 2009-02-07
In Reply to: Practice Dictation - Debbie
OK, I don't want to scare you, but your beginning practice dictations are probably on the easy side! Yes, they do sound awful, but that's what makes MT a profession. The worse it is, the more work there will be for YOU once you get your ears trained.
Doctors dictate FAST, especially surgeons. They often reach speeds close to that of auctioneers. They dictate in a kind of ShortHand speech, too, because they rely on you to know what they're saying.
Doctors' incomes are being cut by insurers, so they have to see more and more patients to stay in business. Especially for physicians who do a lot of long consultations and operative reports, the ability to blow through the dictation at these speeds and to make use of mealtimes and travel time to get it done makes it worth what they have to pay the MT.
In other words, the awful sound isn't something you should bemoan. You'll eventually be able to be proud of your ability to understand this stuff.
Have you ever noticed that parents understand their children's early speech, even when others can't? Understanding medical dictation is much the same. Parents understand their children because they are used to the sound and they already know the context, or the things the child might be saying. The MT has to become used to the sound and learn the context, or the things the doctor might be saying.
On the bright side, they do say the same things over and over. For the most part, they follow the same patterns and discuss the same things. When you learn MT, you'll learn what those patterns are and you'll learn about the material they're discussing. You'll develop your ability to understand the rapid, mushmouth speech.
I agree that you should begin with the files that are easiest. Keep your study material handy so you can refer to the words and topics you've learned. You need to associate the stuff you are learning with what you are hearing.
Avoid peeking at the transcripts too soon. If you do that, you will spoil any chance you have to train your ears. Instead, WORK at understanding the new material. This doesn't mean to beat it to death, but to listen to it many times in a not-too-intense way, so that you eventually realize what you are hearing.
You know how difficult it is to understand the words of songs at first? After you've heard them 10 or 20 times, you begin to become aware of what they are singing. Eventually, you'll understand all of it.
The more you listen to your dictations, the more of them you'll be able to understand. You have to listen over and over. Don't expect to get it the first time or the second or even the third.
Go through it once, just casually listening. See what you can pick out. Go through it again, this time transcribing any bits you can understand. Look over your course material to see if any clues come to mind. Go through it until you're really unable to get any more of it, then put it away for a day or so. Transcribe something else. Study something more.
When you go back to that dictation, it may very well sound a lot better. One key here is in NOT looking at what you transcribed for it before. Start over again fresh. (You don't want to contaminate your second attempt with any frustrations or mishearings you had the first time.)
As difficult as the first dictations may be, remember that doctors say the same things over and over. As you continue learning and transcribing new material, you'll hear the same things you had trouble with on the first dictation, but they'll be said in a different voice and style, and you might understand them then. At that point, when you go back to the first one you had so much trouble with, it will sound easier.
This just takes time and practice. Don't struggle with it, because that will make it harder. Your ears will snap shut the minute you become frustrated, so work on maintaining a calm attitude. This IS something you CAN do, so don't fret and worry--it'll just make things worse.
Usually, if you approach this with an attitude of exploration, things will become easier. This should be an enjoyable activity.
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