At just 18 months, freshman Tyler Longo was the youngest kid to ever be implanted with a Cochlear Implant. The device helps him understand sounds, because without it, he can’t hear anything.

“The implant is basically a processor that comes off real easy,” Tyler said. “A magnet is connected to the processor, and everything I hear is through a microphone. I don’t hear through my ears at all, just through two microphones.”

A cochlear implant is a surgically implanted device that allows people who are thoroughly deaf or severely hard of hearing, to have a sense of sound. Tyler’s unique case of deafness started in Russia, where he was born.

“We are not sure if I lost my hearing from some medication I was taking there, or if I was born with it,” he said.” I had bronchitis really bad when I was young, and in Russia the medication they gave me can cause hearing loss. In fact, that medicine is illegal in the U.S.”

Tyler moved to America when he was a little older, where he lived in Buffalo, New York, for two years. There, he attended a speech school to help him improve his abilities and graduated just a few months later for excelling in classes.

“I learned how to better hear noises and what people sound like,” Tyler said. “The classes helped me hear voices and learn how to talk fluently.”

Tyler used the skills he learned at the specialized school to better understand people, but he also grew up reading lips. When he doesn’t have his implant on, Tyler communicates with others by using this ability.

Even though he said there’s a good chance he will never know the real reason for his deafness, he maintains a positive attitude and has learned to deal with any challenges that come his way.

“One thing that’s difficult for me, is telling the direction from where sounds come from,” Tyler said. “I can’t tell if it’s coming from in front of me or behind me, because it seems the same. The only way I can tell where sound is coming from, is if it’s loud or very quiet.”

Working through obstacles is normal for Tyler, but he also counts on friends and family to keep the mood light. For instance, Tyler said his dad occasionally sticks metal objects like paper clips or bottle caps to the magnet behind his ear, where his cochlear implant is.

“He likes to joke around sometimes,” Tyler said. “And on other days, he catches me off guard and tries to scare me when my implant is connected to music.”

While maintaining his sense of humor, Tyler makes sure his implant does not define who he is. In fact, he participates in the same classes and activities as any other freshman. He also enjoys playing sports such as ice hockey and roller hockey.

“I consider myself athletic and outgoing,” Tyler said. “I like to try new things I’ve never done before because I like the thrill of it and not knowing what’s going to happen. You get a good experience when you go through it.”