Northern Trust enhances healthcare accessibility with new hearing support lanyards
- Love Ballymena
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
Inset: Sarah Cochrane, NHSCT, wearing the I am Deaf lanyard.
The Northern Health and Social Care Trust has taken a significant step in promoting inclusive healthcare by launching hearing support lanyards for patients and service users with hearing loss.
The initiative is designed to improve communication between staff and individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or who rely on lip reading, ensuring that everyone receives equitable and understanding care.
The newly introduced lanyards act as a discreet but easily recognisable signal to healthcare staff, indicating that the wearer may require alternative communication methods or additional support.
Explaining the purpose behind the initiative, Jillian Smyth, Equality Officer at the Northern Trust, said:
“We are very proud to introduce our new lanyards which offer a discreet yet recognisable 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 concept emerged following direct feedback from a patient who shared their experience of navigating the healthcare system with profound deafness. Their account highlighted the challenges that arise when communication needs are not immediately recognised or addressed by staff.
Patients feedback included:
“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.”
This patient-led feedback was instrumental in shaping the initiative, reinforcing the importance of listening to service users and making practical changes that have a real impact on individuals’ experiences in the health system.
The hearing support lanyards are now available for patients and service users across the Northern Trust area. They aim not only to improve individual interactions but also to promote a culture of awareness and empathy among healthcare professionals.
To request a lanyard for yourself or a family member, contact the Trust’s Equality Unit by emailing: