Taking down technical testimony can be challenging for brand new or less experienced court reporters. Medical terminology in particular can be difficult because not only is the reporter hearing new words that are not in their dictionaries, the speaker is usually very familiar with them. When people are familiar with their subject matter, they tend to speak more quickly and clip some of the syllables in their words. It is more difficult for newer stenographers to go faster and write cleanly.

As a result, medical testimony can be a nightmare to transcribe because it is important to spell the technical terms correctly. To find the proper spelling, the word must be hunted down by guessing on possible spelling until it has been found and can then be inserted into the transcript before it is completed and certified. There are a few ways to make it easier until the court reporter takes more medical deposition testimony and trial witnesses, making the terminology more recognizable and familiar when spoken.

Dictionary

A lot of people no longer use printed books, but having a very thick hard copy of a medical dictionary will come in handy. For words that are unfamiliar and can start in a variety of ways, scan through a section of entries with the beginning letter or two of the word. Look for anything that might be close and see if the context of the definition sounds plausible. This can bring better results than trying to punch in a number of spelling possibilities on a website in hopes that one might hit. Also helpful is a medical glossary. Although it has no definitions, the right word will often jump off the page. The definition can then be verified from an online or offline dictionary.

Online

Keep in mind that most medical terms have a root word pertaining to the body part or procedure they involve. Prefixes and suffixes are added to enhance the direction or placement of the object. For example, cephalo refers to the head. Words like hydrocephalic or encephalitis refer to maladies of the head. The court stenographer could look for Internet entries or online medical dictionary definitions with the part of the word they know and hopefully find the appropriate spelling of the word with the suffix or prefixes added.

Sound-Alikes

When people speak quickly or lazily it is sometimes difficult to understand what they are saying. Add in the use of unfamiliar terms, and it may be hard to distinguish between unfamiliar syllables. What sounds like an N might be an M. The letters B and D can get mixed up, as can S and F. Words that sounds like they have an S sound may be spelled with a C instead. Try different letter combinations.

Ask For Help

While asking for help can make less experienced court reporters embarrassed or self-conscious, it is more embarrassing to complete a transcription incorrectly and have the client question the quality of the work. Deposition reporters can mark their notes during the proceedings and ask the witness for the proper spelling on a break or at the end of the session. If legal transcription services are ordered, they can also call or email the witness to "verify" the spellings of what they said. It may be difficult to reach a busy doctor, but medical secretaries and assistants may know the word or ask the doctor in between patients and return the phone call. Pharmacies are a helpful resource for drug terms when the correct spelling cannot be found. Asking a more senior reporter is a possibility as well. They may even have other tips for finding terms, whether it is a special website or printed material.