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

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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. 

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