Young basketball enthusiast Callan Brooks hopped on a plane to try and bring home gold at the Asia Pacific Deaf Games. Little did he know that his team would go on to be undefeated in the Taiwan games.
While most basketball players rely heavily on whistles and sounds to play, Callan has taught himself to play the game differently. He keeps one step ahead by paying close attention to the moves of his team mates and opponents.
For Callan, there’s been no other way to play basketball as he was born with a hearing loss, which continued to deteriorate over the years.
Getting the right solution
“Having a hearing loss can sometimes be frustrating, especially when it’s difficult to communicate. But I’ve never let my hearing loss stop me from doing the things I love,” recalls Callan.
At three years old, Callan was taken to Hearing Australia Morwell to be fitted with hearing aids, which allowed him to catch-up on his language and speech development. A few years ago, Callan received a cochlear implant to tackle the decline of hearing in his right ear.
I wouldn’t be able to hear a thing without my hearing aid and cochlear implant, says Callan.
Growing up, Callan's passion was for basketball and he was eager to wear the green and gold for Australia’s Deaf Basketball team, The Goannas, in Taiwan.
Basketball is such a big part of my life and who I am. It’s about discipline, respect and willpower, especially when you feel like your strength is gone. It’s a game of mentality and courage too, said Callan.
