Shaisa Kerai, ST3 Audiovestibular Medicine, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Amol Anand, ST4 Audiovestibular Medicine Whittington Hospital NHS Trust
The British Association of Audiovestibular Physicians (BAAP) hosted its 2025 Annual Conference in Birmingham, drawing clinicians, researchers and trainees from across the UK and internationally for two days of high-quality academic content and professional networking.
Day one opened with a warm welcome from Professor Soumit Dasgupta. The first keynote, from Dr Eugen Ionescu (CHU University Hospital of Lyon), delivered a masterclass on third window syndromes, reviewing Ward diagnostic criteria, emphasising the importance of radiological–physiological correlation and outlining surgical approaches.
Melina Willems (Artevelde University, Belgium) followed with an engaging session on audiology in athletes with intellectual disabilities, highlighting the diagnostic challenges in this underserved population and advocating for tailored, patient-centred assessments.
The prestigious Sue Bellman Lecture was given by Professor Armagan Incesulu (Osman Gazi University, Turkey), who spoke on cochlear implantation in Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder (ANSD). She discussed how lesion site, age at implantation and the use of electrocochleography can influence outcomes. Continuing the ANSD theme, Dr Kai Uus (University of Manchester) explored genetic and electrophysiological perspectives, focusing on OTOF mutations, early ABR testing and the emerging promise of gene therapy.
Professor J S Bamrah CBE (University of Manchester) addressed health inequalities in the NHS, drawing on Race and Health Observatory data to challenge delegates to consider their role in reducing disparities. Dr Anin Dasgupta (Leeds General Hospital) offered a practical emergency approach to dizziness using the GRACE-3 framework. The day concluded with patient advocate Lara Bishop’s moving account of living with vestibular migraine, highlighting the impact of invisible symptoms and the value of empathetic communication.
Day two showcased BAAP members’ research and reflective practice. Trainee presentations included: congenital deafness with renal tubular acidosis (Dr Amol Anand); a meta-analysis on paediatric video head impulse testing (vHIT) (Dr Safaa Dawabah); Bow Hunter Syndrome (Dr Thomas Weddell); a mimic of endolymphatic hydrops (Dr Dominic Ip); ear canal atresia (Dr Shaista Kerai); and Usher syndrome in dual sensory clinics (Dr Madeline Leadon).
The Hallpike Prize Lecture was awarded to Dr Nataliya Kharytaniuk for her work on superficial siderosis, offering practical guidance on diagnosis and long-term management.
In the afternoon consultant session, Dr Arun Pajaniappane (St George’s) discussed the diagnostic subtleties of interpreting air–bone gaps; Dr Rosa Crunkhorn (Guy’s) introduced the STARDUST trial on PPPD; Dr Sudhira Ratnayake (Alder Hey) shared global child health outreach initiatives; and Dr Deepak Rajendrakumar (University Hospital of Wales) presented ‘Balance Land,’ an innovative vestibular rehabilitation tool.
This year’s BAAP conference successfully blended cutting-edge science with clinical applicability, reaffirming the society’s role as a leading forum for advancing audiovestibular medicine.
