VOA标准英语2012--US Military's Handling of Brain Injuries, Mental Health in Spotlight
时间：2018-12-08 作者：英语课 分类：VOA标准英语2012年(三月)
英语课
US Military's Handling of Brain Injuries, Mental Health in Spotlight 1
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 Disorder 2 [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 decided 3 it was PTSD because their one scan didn’t show TBI [traumatic brain injury]."
Dr. Stephen Xenakis - a psychiatrist 4 and retired 5 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 Sergeant 6 Bales has drawn 7 attention to this military hospital on his home base in the state of Washington. The facility is under investigation 8 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 systematic 9.
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 err 10 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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。