A LITTLE boy who is deaf in both ears will have his hearing restored after his parents won their battle with North Dorset Primary Care Trust.

Health officials claimed a cochlear implant in one ear would meet two-year-old Matthew Harvey's clinical needs and that a second was a matter of parental choice and, though the trust would meet the cost of one implant, the £8,000 cost of the second should fall to his parents.

But the trust backed down to pressure from Matthew's parents Kirsten and James and agreed to fund both.

Speaking from the family home in Stalbridge James said: "We're thrilled.

"It was incomprehensible that they wouldn't fund two implants but it seems to be the standard to just do one.

"It is proven in America that children who have two implants generally do better in life.

"With one implant they can't tell which direction the sound came from; with two, hearing is much more three-dimensional.

"Him having two implants won't stop another child having one because the cost of the second is cheaper."

Fitting one implant costs around £36,750 that covers the implant, the hardware, the operation and diagnostic and follow-up care.

If a second implant is fitted at the same time the extra cost is £8,000.

"We hope his case will set a precedent so others in his situation are automatically offered two implants and parents don't have to fight for it."

Matthew lost his hearing due to an unknown virus when he was one and is currently learning some sign language.

Matthew's implants should be fitted in time for Christmas.

They will give him mechanical hearing and sounds will take a digital form, which he'll learn to interpret.

He will be given speech therapy in a bid to bring his speech up to the level of his peers.

A spokesman for North Dorset PCT said they had been considering Matthew's needs for some time but were unable to comment on his particular case or their reasons for now allowing a second implant.

They said money had not been a factor in their deliberations.