Northern Trust introduces new hearing support lanyards

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust has demonstrated its commitment to providing accessible healthcare for all by introducing hearing support lanyards for patients and service users with hearing loss.

The initiative aims to improve communication and provide greater support for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or who lip read, when accessing medical services.

Explaining more, the Northern Trust’s Equality Officer, Jillian Smyth, said: “To coincide with Deaf Awareness Week which takes place from May 5-11, we are very proud to introduce our new lanyards which offer a discreet yet recognizable way for patients to indicate that they may need additional communication support.

“By wearing the lanyard, patients are alerting our staff so they speak clearly, face them directly, or use alternative communication methods. This reduces the need for repeated explanations and helps to create a more supportive and efficient environment, which is centred around the patient and their individual needs.”

The idea for the lanyards was sparked by feedback from a patient, who contacted the Trust’s Equality Unit to describe the communication challenges they have faced while in hospital.

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They said: “Being profoundly deaf made me feel very isolated and I experienced great difficulty understanding staff conversations with me, especially if they are not always aware of my situation.

“Many assume I am hard of hearing and raise their voices, which only creates more difficulty.  I am delighted with the introduction of hearing link lanyards, which will immediately identify my deafness and hopefully prompt staff to establish my preferred method of communication. I hope they will be of benefit to others.”

To request a lanyard for yourself, or a family member, please email equality.unit@northerntrust.hscni.net

Deaf Awareness Week is an annual event that celebrates the deaf community and raises awareness about deafness. This year's theme is ‘beyond silence’, emphasizing breaking barriers, advocating for accessibility, and celebrating the contributions of deaf individuals.