A SOCIAL media appeal to help find a lost hearing device for a profoundly deaf six-year-old boy has spread across the UK.

Little Ashton Lynass from Queen Road West in Accrington lost his cochlear implant after going on a family trip to Eureka museum in Halifax on April 7.

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Without the device, which cost £5,000 the youngster, who attends Royal Cross Primary School for deaf children in Preston, cannot hear anything.

His mum Chanel Barton, 26, took to social media site Facebook to appeal for anyone who might have seen the device to contact her to return it. The post has since been shared more than 4,700 times.

Chanel said: “When we were on the train back from Eureka I noticed that his right implant had come out.

“We think it has come out either in the museum or on the way to the train station, which is just next to the museum. We’ve contacted the museum but they haven’t seen it. It is no use to anyone else and has been programmed to his requirements.

“We keep hoping that someone will find it. I was hopeful when a woman contacted me saying she thought she found it, but it was a hearing aid.”

Ashton’s family found out he was deaf after he was checked during post birth hearing tests, and was then given hearing aids.

But since then his hearing deteriorated and he underwent two operations for cochlear implants at age two and four.

She added: “I was heartbroken when I found out he was deaf, but he’s managed really well since he had his implants in.”

The device was provided for free by the NHS from Manchester University Hospital.

He has since been provided with a free replacement implant from the NHS to wear for three months, but will need to apply for another permanent device if it is not found.

Although Chanel has been told that Ashton will not go without an implant, it means that he could have to wait longer for an upgrade at a later date.

She added: “I put it on Facebook in the hope someone would find it.

“I’m pleased it has been shared so many times, I’m hoping someone will find it so the NHS don’t have to pay for another one to be made.”