Claire Snape’s (audiologist at Royal Derby Hospital) journey into audiology wasn’t a straight line. After finishing school and A levels, she planned to study at university but didn’t get into her first-choice course. Determined to work in healthcare, she took a hospital job while exploring her options, initially considering speech and language therapy or physiotherapy.
By chance, a colleague suggested audiology, and at that time, in 1997, the profession could still be entered through an apprenticeship rather than a university degree. Claire seized the opportunity, training at the School of Audiology in Nottingham and combining hands-on clinical work with medical physics studies at People’s College. The apprenticeship route not only gave her direct clinical exposure from day one but also spared her university tuition fees.
She went on to build her career in Nottingham before moving to Derby in 2004, where her focus expanded beyond hearing aids into vestibular diagnostics and rehabilitation. Today, Claire works as part of a dedicated multidisciplinary team, delivering comprehensive balance and hearing care, and helping to develop streamlined clinics that bring together audiologists and ENT specialists for patient-centered solutions.
The Patients and Challenges of Vestibular Care
Claire explains that the types of patients she sees have changed over time. In the past, cases of labyrinthitis and vestibular neuronitis were more common, but recently she has noticed a rise in patients with Persisterende Positionele Perceptie Duizeligheid (PPPD). These patients are often more complex, as they may have been on vestibular suppressants for too long, preventing proper compensation and rehabilitation.
She also sees patients with bilateral vestibular loss, though less frequently, around one case per month or every couple of months. For these patients, Claire and her team begin with diagnostic testing and then design tailored rehabilitation programs. Exercises may include head movement and gaze-stabilization tasks, visual-vertigo strategies, foam pad balance training, walking or standing routines, and whole-body exercises. Patients are encouraged to practice these exercises for short periods multiple times a day, with regular follow-ups to monitor progress and increase difficulty as needed. Additionally, resources such as a vestibular migraine video are recommended when relevant.
Among the main challenges Claire highlights are:
- Encouraging patients to reduce reliance on vestibular suppressants.
- Addressing mobility or pain issues, especially in elderly patients.
- Managing long waiting lists, particularly for vestibular physiotherapy.
- Limited access to advanced equipment, such as rotating chairs, which would make repositioning tests easier for patients with mobility or back problems.
Despite these challenges, Claire and her team remain focused on delivering practical, patient-centered vestibular care.
First Experiences with the BalanceBelt
Claire first learned about the BalanceBelt through Dr. Meehan, an audio-vestibular physician who now works privately. Dr. Meehan introduced her to the device and asked Claire to support with diagnostic testing and fittings. Claire was intrigued and excited to try this innovative technology, believing it could offer real benefits. Her only initial concern was whether patients with poor mobility or additional health issues (like spinal problems) would be suitable candidates.
One of the first patients she fitted was “Jane”, a local woman with bilateral vestibular failure following a respiratory infection. Jane had been symptomatic since early 2023, with low gain on all six semicircular canal tests and limited progress despite vestibular rehabilitation. By the time she was referred to Claire, she relied on a cane or walking pole, and significant physical support from her husband, especially outdoors.
During the initial assessment, Jane performed standard standing and walking tests with and without the Balance Belt. After just 15–20 minutes of wearing it, she reported feeling slightly more confident, though the measured improvement was modest. Still, given her long history of symptoms, even small early gains were encouraging.
When Jane returned about three weeks later, the impact was clear: she walked into the clinic without holding her husband’s arm and was no longer using her walking stick. She described the belt as “invaluable,” saying it had reduced her fear of falling, increased her independence, and allowed her to walk more confidently. Her husband also noticed she relied on him much less. Jane even regained the ability to move more freely around her garden, a meaningful sign of restored independence.
Broader Implications and Takeaways
From her first experiences, Claire sees strong potential for the BalanceBelt in treating a wide range of vestibular patients, not only those with bilateral vestibular loss, but also unilateral cases and anyone experiencing veering or unsteady walking. She believes it could play an important role in improving mobility, safety, and independence across different patient groups.
Claire also raised the possibility of incorporating the device into the UK’s Access to Work, a governmental project, which helps employees secure practical aids (such as headsets or loop systems) to continue working effectively. The Balance Belt, she suggested, could similarly be offered to patients whose vestibular disorders interfere with their ability to work, providing both clinical and socioeconomic benefits.
As for next steps, Claire highlighted the need for greater awareness of the BalanceBelt among clinicians and patients. She is open to fitting more patients referred either by BalanceBelt or by Dr. Meehan. Looking ahead, she wondered how the device could be integrated into the NHS, perhaps with hospitals purchasing belts and loaning them to patients for defined treatment periods.