VOA标准英语2012--US Military's Handling of Brain Injuries, Mental Health in Spotlight

US Military's Handling of Brain Injuries, Mental Health in Spotlight¹

For Will Cook, coming home has been almost as challenging as going to war in Iraq. 

Doctors believe the 22-year-old former U.S. army specialist is suffering from traumatic brain injury following an explosion.

He lost part of his leg and now uses a prosthetic one. 

His brain is still in the process of healing. 

“My memory has not been anywhere near what it used to be. Retaining information is difficult. When I try to speak, I draw a blank on words,” said Cook.

He complained of anxiety and crippling headaches. 

Military doctors said it was Post Traumatic Stress Disorder² [PTSD]. 

Cook knew something different was wrong - something physical that doctors did not seem to catch. 

“They didn’t give me all of my options. I don’t’ think they wanted to try because they thought they’d figured it out. They decided³ it was PTSD because their one scan didn’t show TBI [traumatic brain injury]." 

Dr. Stephen Xenakis - a psychiatrist⁴ and retired⁵ army brigadier general now in private practice - carefully examined Will’s case in a way he said military doctors sometimes do not have the time to do. 

“You’ve got the culture of the military that is - rightly so - so focused on the mission that they’ve got as many people into combat, on the playing field, as they can,” said Xenakis.

The case of Staff Sergeant⁶ Bales has drawn⁷ attention to this military hospital on his home base in the state of Washington. The facility is under investigation⁸ after hundreds of service members had their PTSD diagnoses reversed - decisions that critics say were motivated by concerns over the high cost of treating mental health issues. 

The army says the problem is not systematic⁹. 

Xenakis said money can be a factor in military doctors’ treatment decisions - as can other issues such as experience, time spent with the patient, and sheer luck. 

“Does that mean there needs to be more sensitivity, that perhaps it’s best to err¹⁰ on the side of over-diagnosing? That’s a question that needs to be considered here,” said Xenakis.

For Cook, more than 30 hyperbaric oxygen treatments have made a difference. 

“I haven’t had any headaches anymore. The ringing in my ears has stopped. My memory started getting better. I’m retaining information better. Recall of words is better. My anxiety has gone down a lot to a more manageable level." 

Cook has no plans to return to the military, but he is going on with his life. Just a few months ago, he could not remember simple things like phone numbers. 

Now, he is getting ready to start college. 

1 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

2 disorder   

n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调

参考例句：

• When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
• It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 psychiatrist   

n.精神病专家；精神病医师

参考例句：

• He went to a psychiatrist about his compulsive gambling.他去看精神科医生治疗不能自拔的赌瘾。
• The psychiatrist corrected him gently.精神病医师彬彬有礼地纠正他。

5 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

6 sergeant   

n.警官，中士

参考例句：

• His elder brother is a sergeant.他哥哥是个警官。
• How many stripes are there on the sleeve of a sergeant?陆军中士的袖子上有多少条纹？

7 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

8 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

9 systematic   

adj.有系统的，有计划的，有方法的

参考例句：

• The way he works isn't very systematic.他的工作不是很有条理。
• The teacher made a systematic work of teaching.这个教师进行系统的教学工作。

10 err   

vi.犯错误，出差错

参考例句：

• He did not err by a hair's breadth in his calculation.他的计算结果一丝不差。
• The arrows err not from their aim.箭无虚发。