A BOLTON mother has supported a national call for the universal screening of babies for deafness.

Pam Harrison has a nine-year-old son Matthew, who was born deaf.

Like hundreds of other mothers across the country, she had an agonising wait before the diagnosis of deafness was confirmed.

This week the National Deaf Children's Society is highlighting a campaign which aims to ensure all deaf children are diagnosed as soon as possible after birth.

It's reckoned 840 children are born every year in the UK with a permanent significant hearing impairment.

Half of these will not be diagnosed until they are 18 months old and a quarter will not be diagnosed as deaf until they are three and a half years old.

As secretary of the Bolton branch of the society, Pam believes screening for deafness is a child's right.

"It should not be regarded as a privilege. In my case the worry of Matthew's development was unbearable at times and put a tremendous strain on all of us," said Pam.

For both Pam and Matthew, their 18-month wait was also very frustrating.

Am was increasingly concerned about the lack of speech development, whilst Matthew became increasingly frustrated by his inability to communicate with his parents.

When Am discovered she was pregnant a second time she was concerned this child too might suffer a hearing impairment. But, thankfully, the experience first time around meant daughter Kitty's hearing was tested soon after birth.

Screening would have meant work could have started with Matthew at a much earlier stage and, although Am is now pleased with the help Matthew receives, she believes the society has played an important supporting role.

"It is only by speaking with other parents of deaf children who fully understand all the issues that you get any real sense of moving on," added Am.

Meetings of the local support group are held in Am's home in Tartan on Bolton 596595.

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