Talia Tomlinson (center), a hearing-impaired student, chats with classmates Aiyana Helme (left) and Denna Crane (right) during Advanced Placement freshman English. Photos by Marvin Pfeiffer

The statistics certainly weren’t in Talia Tomlinson’s favor. Born with more than 50 percent hearing loss, she could have spent much of her elementary years learning sign language.

“With hearing losses like hers, which are labeled as severe, some students have to learn to sign,” said Marty Leavitt, a Comal ISD teacher for Students with Auditory Impairments. “On average, students who have a severe-to-profound level of hearing loss graduate from high school reading at about a fourth-grade level because it’s just so hard for them to learn during those early, formative years.”

Tomlinson was never one to fit into a category, but her story is one of strength and determination.

Tomlinson attended public school beginning in kindergarten and was wearing hearing aids in both ears by the time she was in second grade.

Not only did she struggle to keep up in class because of her hearing disadvantage, but Tomlinson also had to deal with other students who didn’t understand what she was going through.

“It’s real tough to be different at that age,” Tomlinson said. “Kids said really mean things to me. All the girls teased me. I would come home crying and me and my mom would cry together.

“I really felt like I was all alone because everyone else was making friends. I felt kind of lost.”

With a lot of help from her mother, Vicky, who decided to quit her job and stay home full time, Tomlinson forged ahead despite the fact she was having a hard time at school.

“When I got home, my mom would redo my whole lesson to make sure I understood it,” Tomlinson said. “I don’t know if I would have been able to make it without her support.”

Tomlinson managed to hold her head high, making it through the roughest years, and then something magical happened when she entered sixth grade at Arlon Seay Intermediate School.

“Things really started to come together for me when I got to Arlon Seay,” she said. “I think the other kids finally started to mature and grow up, and I didn’t feel so out of place.”

Tomlinson also said that in sixth grade, two teachers, Tamera Tidwell and Melinda Rios, and a counselor, Cindy Hurst, helped give her much of the confidence she displays today.

Talia Tomlinson

By the time she was in eighth grade at Spring Branch Middle School, Tomlinson was playing sports and excelling in the classroom.

“I was making all A’s and was playing volleyball, and every Friday night I would go ice skating or to the movies with my friends,” Tomlinson said. “People not only accepted me, but they looked up to me.”

Tomlinson has benefited greatly from the support she’s received from the Comal ISD, which has provided her with an FM System since the second grade. The FM System transmits a teacher’s voice through a tiny microphone, directly to the student at a constant level, ensuring the voice is heard above the level of background noise.

“At Comal ISD, we have administrative assistance that’s the best of the best,” Leavitt said. “Executive Director for Special Programs Deb Mahone has always gone above and beyond anything our students have needed.”

CISD also sends teachers for students with auditory impairments into classrooms to educate other students about their classmate who’s dealing with hearing loss, to help ensure a better level of understanding and compassion.

Now a freshman, Tomlinson is sharing her story with the other 30 hearing impaired students.

Her words gave confidence to others, like first grader Brittany Herman, a hearing-impaired student at Rahe Bulverde Elementary.

“It felt good to meet another girl with hearing aids, because I didn’t know any,” said Herman.

Tomlinson now has her sights set firmly on college.

Because of her level of her hearing loss, it’s likely the Texas Department of Assistance and Rehabilitative Services will pay for all of Tomlinson’s future college expenses.

“I really want to go to Texas A&M and become a veterinarian because I love animals so much,” Tomlinson said. “I would love to start a clinic on a big ranch and then raise a family there.”

Tomlinson said she thinks her early struggles have helped mold her into a more determined young lady.

“At first I thought I may never feel normal,” Tomlinson said. “But now I look back and I’m glad I went through some of the tough times I did. I think it made me the strong person I am today.”