Denim Millward

Sports Editor

When it comes to something predicated on staying in sync and on rhythm such as cheerleading, doing so with a significantly diminished hearing ability seems quite the impossible task. 

Not only has sophomore cheerleader Lyttia O’Neil managed to overcome her hearing impairment to become a member of the ISU Cheerleading squad, she makes it look easy.

Hearing-impaired from birth, O’Neil’s hearing loss was inherited from her father. 

Growing up in the tiny town of Clifton, Idaho proved difficult for O’Neil because of her disability.

“My parents started noticing a big change with me in kindergarten,” O’Neil said.  “I would just sit and not respond to the teacher or any of my classmates who were talking to me.  We didn’t find what was exactly wrong until I was seven-years-old, and that’s when I got my first hearing aid.”

Though advancing hearing-aid technology has improved the effectiveness and comfort of wearing hearing aids, O’Neil isn’t able to solely rely on her hearing to stay synchronized and in rhythm with her fellow cheerleaders.  Instead, she resiliently developed alternative methods that don’t rely on hearing to assist her in keeping in step. 

So how does she do it?

“I can usually feel the vibrations [of the music] through the floor or through my shoes,” O’Neil said.  “If I can’t feel it or I don’t hear anything, I usually just pay very close attention to my team and go from there.” 

O’Neil first tried out for the ISU Cheerleading Squad last year.  Though her first attempt at joining the cheerleading squad was unsuccessful, the experience was not without its rewards, especially at one particular stunt clinic.

“I walked in and saw this very attractive girl on the other side of the floor, so I went up to her and said, ‘I’m gonna throw you,’” said Tynan O’Neil, Lyttia’s fellow cheerleader and husband as of August 2, 2014.  “I didn’t say, ‘do you wanna stunt?’ I said ‘I’m going to throw you.’” 

Tynan recalls that his voice seemed to be more easily audible to Lyttia than the other men at the clinic, which helped sow the first seeds of chemistry between the two. 

Tynan’s bold move paid off and led to the couple’s first date shortly thereafter. 

After a few semesters of dating and cheering together, Tynan proposed at center court at halftime of an ISU women’s basketball game. 

Perhaps more impressive than the overcoming of her hearing impairment to be a Bengal cheerleader is O’Neil’s perseverance over severe balance issues related to her hearing loss. 

“Not only is she hearing impaired, there are different levels of impairment on each ear, so there’s an equilibrium issue,” Tynan said. 

He then referred to a “liberty,” a type of stunt that Lyttia had performed earlier in the evening, essentially being lifted into the air while standing on one leg. 

“For her to be able to stand on one leg up in the air is remarkable, for someone of any ability is remarkable, let alone someone who is hearing impaired,” said Tynan.

“I actually had a hard time walking straight when I was younger, and kids made fun of me all through elementary school for it,” Lyttia said. “Finally, when I got to middle school, I started practicing walking on a line so I wouldn’t walk sideways. 

“I also couldn’t skip until I was in eighth grade,” she added. 

Though O’Neil has been able to overcome her disability to become a cheerleader, it’s not without risk. 

The hearing disorder O’Neil suffers from is progressive: it’s likely her hearing will continue to get worse. 

Though there is a chance the hearing loss will eventually level off, it’s also possible there will come a day when O’Neil is completely deaf. 

The risks taken with the flips, lifts and throws associated with cheerleading could result in disastrous consequences for O’Neil due to this condition.

“If I get dropped or get hit in the head, I could lose even more of my hearing,” Lyttia said. 

“I’ve asked her about that before,” Tynan said.  “I’ve said to her, ‘one knock in the head and you could be completely deaf, do you really want to risk that?’”

In a response truly indicative of her exuberantly positive personality, Lyttia’s reply to her husband was this: “Why should I not live my life just because of something that might happen?”