Nighttime is a period of quiet stillness, allowing for reflection and then hours of (hopefully) uninterrupted sleep.
For Larry Stephens, that isn’t a problem. The night brings silence and a level of tranquility that is difficult to disturb.
The University of Toledo wide receiver is completely deaf when he takes out his cochlear implants, drifting off to a space that most people can’t fathom.
“It’s a way of me meditating and getting peace and silence,” the sophomore said. “I enjoy having the power to hear or not hear.”
It’s all Stephens has ever known. When he was three years old, he was diagnosed as hard of hearing and given hearing aids.