Doctors missed the fact that our son was severely deaf.

The family of a young boy whose profound hearing loss went unnoticed for more than three years are pursuing legal action against a hospital trust. Kirstie and Gavin, residents of Ulceby, say that specialists at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust repeatedly assured them that their son Tommies hearing was normal, attributing his developmental delays to being born prematurely.

The couple reported that medical professionals dismissed concerns, telling them that boys are lazy and that developmental delays were typical compared with girls. The trust has issued an apology but cannot comment further due to ongoing legal proceedings.

Kirstie, 33, recalled raising concerns since Tommie was under one year old. She said, I would make loud noises behind him or switch off the TV, and he wouldnt respond. Doctors insisted it was just him being absorbed in play, and I felt like an overprotective first-time mum.

Represented by Hudgell Solicitors, the family stated that Tommie's profound deafness was only diagnosed during his eighth hearing test at three-and-a-half years old. Initially, he received hearing aids, which were poorly fitted and offered limited improvement. The family learned from the trust that cochlear implants should ideally have been fitted between six and twelve months, with children receiving them before 18 months typically achieving normal speech and development.

Seeking private care, Tommie eventually received cochlear implants, which his mother described as transformational. Early assessments had taken place at Diana Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby. In 2023, the hospitals audiology department, along with Scunthorpe General Hospital, was reviewed by the British Academy of Audiology after newborn hearing screening results raised concerns.

In correspondence with the family, the NHS trust acknowledged long-standing issues within the audiology department, including newborn hearing tests not conducted according to guidelines and diagnostic assessments being improperly carried out. Some results were not sent for external review due to a lack of trained staff. The trust admitted that had proper procedures and oversight been in place, Tommie's hearing loss could have been identified earlier.

Following the 2023 review, the trust carried out a comprehensive recall of children who might need further assessment, offering follow-up appointments and ongoing support. All recommendations from the independent reviewincluding improvements in staff training, clinical governance, and equipmenthave been implemented. A subsequent NHS England visit confirmed the service is now operating safely.

Author: Harper Simmons