The parents of a deaf Blackfen boy have opened up about their emotional struggle to help get their son speaking as they continue to fundraise for the charity which made it possible.

Callum Herholdt was diagnosed as deaf as a baby leaving his parents, Ingrid and C.T, doubtful of whether he would ever be able to speak.

"As a completely hearing family it is not something you prepare for. When we first found out we were convinced, it’s the test, it’s the equipment, it wasn’t our boy," said mum Ingrid.

However, the hopeful couple quickly came to terms with their first born’s diagnosis and began looking for options to best help their son's progress and give him a new lease of life as soon as possible.

"We were very wary of that golden period, that sort of 0 – 3 years of age and unfortunately with Callum at such an early age we had to start thinking about prepping for school so we got proactive," said C.T

The ‘golden period’ refers to the first 1000 days of a child’s life during which the brain completes 85 per cent of physical growth.

During this period the brain remains most receptive to new stimuli, creating a limited window during which a child can learn to make sense of sound.

At two months old, Callum was fitted with hearing aids before his parents discovered national charity Auditory Verbal UK (AVUK) during a deaf expo in Kent six months later.

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Mum Ingrid with daughter Daniella and son Callum.

Enrolling him in the charity's specialist speech and language programme, Callum eventually graduated with flying colours and was able to speak on par with his hearing peers.

Hailing the charity’s work, dad C.T said: "They have empowered us. When we first found out about Callum’s hearing loss we didn’t know where to look or where to turn.

"The initial feeling [when we visited the charity] was one of relief, that there was someone out there who could help us and that offered achievable outcomes towards our goal of helping Callum to speak.

"AVUK has helped us get the best for Callum and for us as a family and that’s more than we could have wished for."

Ingrid added: "It’s meant Callum having the opportunity to learn as any other child and then you get the daily rewards of it, listening to Callum and Daniella in the back of the car and they’re having a full-on conversation. It’s just amazing to listen to."

The grateful couple are now hoping to raise a whopping £5,000 through their business Blackfen Chiropractic Clinic in Sidcup.

The money raised will go towards funding Auditory Verbal therapy for another child.

For more information on the fundraiser visit Blackfen Chiropractic Clinic, 248 Blackfen Road, Sidcup or click here.