BEREA, Ohio – A specially modified football helmet has helped a deaf high school athlete play through the season without the challenges that previously held him back.

Cole Vanatta, a player for the Wickliffe Blue Devils, had struggled with keeping his hearing aids in place during games. Contact on the field often knocked them loose, making it difficult to hear plays and communicate with teammates. The issue nearly forced him to play without them.

To address the problem, Cole and his family modified his helmet by removing internal padding that interfered with his hearing aids. But the solution didn’t stop there.

According to WJW, when the Cleveland Browns learned about Cole’s situation, they connected with Riddell, a helmet manufacturer based in nearby North Ridgeville. Working together,

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