Introduction: What Is Taliso Engel’s Condition?
This article explores Taliso Engel’s condition – the health challenges faced by the well-known German para-swimmer. You’ll learn what happened to him, how it affects his life, and how he continues to perform at a world-class level. Everything is written in simple and clear language, making it easy to understand for readers of all ages.
Who Is Taliso Engel?
Taliso Engel is a professional para-swimmer from Germany. He competes in the Paralympics and international events. Since birth, Taliso has had very limited vision, which classifies him in the S13 category – for athletes with partial sight.
His vision allows him to see only a small portion of what’s around him, mostly on the edges. He cannot see clear shapes or colors, which makes everyday life and swimming especially challenging.
Taliso Engel’s Condition: Hearing Loss in One Ear
While his visual impairment was already a major challenge, Taliso experienced another setback in 2023. He lost hearing in his right ear, making his condition a rare combination of low vision and single-sided deafness.
This combination makes navigating the world much more difficult, especially in environments that rely on both sight and sound.
How Did It Happen?
In early 2023, while attending a training camp in Turkey, Taliso developed a serious ear infection. Unfortunately, the infection caused his eardrum to rupture, and he completely lost hearing in his right ear.
By the time he returned to Germany and received medical treatment, the damage was irreversible. Doctors could not restore his natural hearing.
What Is a Cochlear Implant?
Later in 2023, Taliso received a cochlear implant. This is a special electronic device that helps people with severe hearing loss. It works by sending sound signals directly to the brain through the inner ear.
However, in Taliso’s case, the implant only provided limited benefit. He can detect basic sounds or rhythmic patterns, but he cannot understand speech through the implant. His left ear remains his only functional ear for hearing clearly.
How Does It Affect His Daily Life?
In daily life, this condition presents many difficulties:
- In loud environments like restaurants or events, he struggles to follow conversations.
- He must always position himself so that people speak into his left ear.
- This requires constant attention, planning, and energy.
Taliso describes this as mentally and emotionally exhausting, especially in social settings.
Does It Affect His Swimming?
Surprisingly, his swimming has not been greatly affected. In the water, Taliso relies on body awareness and the feeling of water movement. His balance remains excellent, and communication with coaches is still possible through his left ear.
His training and performance continue at a high level, showing that physical impairments don’t always limit athletic success.
Why Is This Dual Condition So Challenging?
People with visual impairments often rely heavily on their hearing. Taliso used to depend on sound to compensate for his limited sight. Losing hearing in one ear took away one of his main support systems.
Now, with poor vision and hearing on only one side, his perception of the world is limited. He admits that he may never understand speech with his right ear again, and he is slowly adjusting to this new reality.
Taliso Remains Strong
Despite these challenges, Taliso didn’t give up. He continued to train, compete, and even break records. His dedication paid off when he was named Para Athlete of the Year in Germany in 2024.
His resilience is inspiring. He proves that with hard work and belief, even serious conditions like his don’t have to stand in the way of success.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Taliso Engel’s Condition
Q1: What is Taliso Engel’s condition?
Taliso was born with very poor eyesight and later lost hearing in his right ear due to a severe ear infection in 2023.
Q2: Can Taliso see or hear at all?
He has limited vision (around 6–8 percent) and hears well only with his left ear. His right ear is completely deaf.
Q3: Did the cochlear implant help him?
Only slightly. It allows him to detect some sounds, but he cannot understand speech through it.
Q4: Is his condition getting worse?
No. There have been no signs of further decline, but the hearing loss in his right ear is permanent.
Q5: Can he still compete in swimming?
Yes. He continues to swim at elite international levels and regularly wins medals despite his condition.
Fazit
Taliso Engel’s condition is a rare and difficult combination of low vision and hearing loss in one ear. He was born with a severe visual impairment and later lost his hearing on the right side due to an infection.
Despite receiving medical help and a cochlear implant, his right-side hearing could not be restored. Daily life presents many challenges, especially in noisy or crowded environments.
However, in the swimming pool, Taliso continues to perform at the highest level. His story is a powerful reminder that strength, determination, and a positive mindset can overcome even the toughest health challenges.
He is not just a champion in the water – he is a true symbol of perseverance and courage. mehr Beitrag lesen
