Kylie Patch

When Everything Changed

When Kylie Patch was a baby, it took a while for her parents to realize that she was Deaf. After all, she passed her first hearing test, and seemed to have no trouble listening and responding. It wasn’t until she was over one year old that her condition became apparent. At the age of eighteen months, she was officially diagnosed as deaf.

Not long after her initial diagnosis, she received a device that would change her life forever: a cochlear implant. She underwent surgery to get an implant placed for both of her ears, obtaining one for the right at two, and one for the left at four. Although she struggled at first to adjust to the devices, she says that she now uses them frequently in her day-to-day life. Kylie’s cochlear implants allowed her to experience sounds at a degree that would be previously unthinkable for someone diagnosed with deafness. With her new aids providing assistance, she felt as if there was no limit to what she might achieve.

An Artist Blossoms

Growing up, Kylie pursued a wide range of hobbies, from competitive swimming to theater. From a young age, her creative spirit evidenced itself in her love of make-believe games and dressing up. One of her hobbies was making short films with neighborhood kids, coming up with imaginative concepts and characters for fun. Her major passion is art, with a focus on comics and storyboarding. She has hopes to enter the art industry professionally once she graduates from college.

While she has occasionally dealt with struggles in academic environments, such as unempathetic teachers and a lack of understanding of accommodations, she has not let these struggles hinder her enjoyment of learning.

“Don’t let others bully you, you can do anything. You just need to learn how to advocate for yourself and use your voice,” she says.

She credits her determination and resilience to her supportive family, who have remained her biggest allies throughout her life.

Growing Strong

Kylie proudly states that being Deaf does not keep her from doing anything she wants to do, be that traveling Europe with her family, creating art, or spending time with her boyfriend. She says, “I can do anything hearing people can do except hear.”

She is currently studying at the Savannah College of Art and Design, where she majors in sequential art and minors in storyboarding. After college, she plans on obtaining a Master’s degree in either film or marketing.

For those interested in hearing more from Kylie, check out her Instagram account @ky.patch05.