New technology helps six-year-old footballer to hear – Kent Online
Freddie Plank used to struggle while playing football, as he couldn’t hear his coaches shout advice or his team-mates yell for a pass. But now that has all changed.
The six-year-old, from Cliffe Woods, was diagnosed as being moderately deaf when he was two-and-a half after his parents, Annie, 28, and Steve, 31, noticed he was struggling to hear when they went out.
Cliffe Woods Colts coach and manager explaining the new radio aid
Annie explained that when Freddie is in an o…….
Freddie Plank used to struggle while playing football, as he couldn’t hear his coaches shout advice or his team-mates yell for a pass. But now that has all changed.
The six-year-old, from Cliffe Woods, was diagnosed as being moderately deaf when he was two-and-a half after his parents, Annie, 28, and Steve, 31, noticed he was struggling to hear when they went out.
Cliffe Woods Colts coach and manager explaining the new radio aid
Annie explained that when Freddie is in an open area and there is a lot of background noise he cannot grasp the direction the sound is coming from.
If multiple people are calling him, that can also be confusing too.
It meant it was particularly hard for Freddie, who has a brother, Harley, and sister, Maisie, to enjoy the sport he loves.
Annie, who works as a support worker, said: “We only started to notice on the pitch when he was that much further away.
From left: Annie, Freddie, sister Maisie, Steve and brother Harley. Picture: Annie Plank
“Football is his life. For him to be struggling a little bit – it is not very nice to watch as a parent.
“Despite every effort from the coaches, it was beginning to have a negative impact on his experience due the background noise, wind and acoustics interfering with his hearing aids and making it harder for him to hear.
“This can be very upsetting and distressing for Freddie.”
The family decided to look into getting Freddie, who plays for Cliffe Woods Colts Under 7s, a radio aid which is worn around the football coach’s neck and feeds noise directly into his hearing aids.
They were unable to get one on the NHS as it was not needed for school, so they started a JustGiving online fundraising page.
Cliffe Woods Colt FC under 7s. Picture: Annie Plank
In less than a day they had raised the £1,160 they needed for the equipment.
Two processors clip securely into Freddie’s hearing aids and transmit the sound picked up by the radio aid directly into them, so he is able to hear clearly.
Annie, of Hale Road in Cliffe Woods, said: “He seems to absolutely love it. His face lit up when we tried it. I am hoping it will encourage him to wear …….
