Being deaf may make it hard to communicate in school or excel in athletics, but one NIU student has defied both barriers.

Nineteen-year-old Mark Gresholdt, a sophomore communication major, has overcome the disability he was born with.

When Mark was born, he didn’t respond to the sound portion of the behavioral screenings performed on all newborns. As a result, he was diagnosed with sensory neuro-hearing loss.

Pam Jackson, an audiologist with the NIU Communicative Disorders Department, first identified Gresholdt’s hearing loss and still works with him from time to time.

His father, Gary, is the NIU associate provost for student affairs and his mother, Holly, taught Mark sign language.

In addition to sign language, Mark wore a hearing aid and took classes at the NIU Speech and Hearing Clinic.

He attended a school for the deaf in Hanover Park until third grade. Then he was mainstreamed into DeKalb public schools.

“I had a teacher-interpreter who has been working with me for nine years all the way to my senior year of DeKalb High School,” Mark said.

Now in college, Mark stopped going to the speech and hearing clinic and works more on speech therapy and aural rehabilitation.

“This type of training can take up to several years, but Mark is progressing along very nicely,” Jackson said.

Mark is the vice president of Deaf Pride, a deaf student organization involved in many activities.

“Our audience is deaf people and hearing people, which is nice to see the interaction and interest in deaf culture,” Mark said.

Not only has Mark excelled in school but also in athletics.

In July, he competed in the Deaflympics in Rome. As a member of Team USA, he came home with four medals, three gold and one bronze.

“Winning the bronze was the biggest thrill because I got to swim against Terence Parkin from South Africa,” Mark said. “I didn’t expect to place at all.”

Mark, joined by his teammates Greg Reese, Chris Nelan Jr. and Jack Hammack, set a new deaf world record in the 4 X 100 meter freestyle relay at 3:39.30.

“It was extremely exciting to be in Rome with Mark and to see him do so well,” Gary Gresholdt said. “We are very proud of all he has done.”

Mark started his swimming career when he was just six years old. He first competed with the DeKalb County Swim Team coached by Brian Bickner.

Having no training with deaf swimmers, Bickner had a tough time getting used to coaching Mark.

“We had an interpreter for about two weeks, but that didn’t work at all,” Bickner said. “Now he just reads my lips or I use hand signals.”

Regardless of the rough beginning, Bickner has coached Mark ever since and helped him make it to the Deaflympics.

“As a coach, it is thrilling to watch one of your own make it to that level,” Bickner added.

Now, Mark is taking a break from swimming to rest up from his trip to Rome. During the break, he’s doing weight training and teaching private swimming lessons to young swimmers.

As for the future, Mark plans to swim again for Team USA in several meets. Beginning in Spring 2003, the team will have a dual meet with Russia. Later that year, he will compete in the World Championships in Holland. Finally, in 2005 Mark hopes to be on his way to Melbourne, Australia for the Deaflympics.