The start of the year saw the BAAP annual conference take place in March. The meeting included talks from a European faculty on a variety of topics including genetic vestibular disorders, imaging of endolymphatic hydrops, vestibular evoked myogenic potential testing, cochlear implantation in auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder, deaf CAMHS, advances in diagnostic tests for peripheral vestibulopathy, and a national peer review of auditory brain stem responses. There was a particularly inspiring case demonstrating how early investigation of hearing loss resulted an opportunity for experimental gene therapy treatment that included the perspective of a parent.
The BAAP Midyear Symposium held in June focussed on the genetics of hearing loss. Delegates attended from around the world to hear the featured eminent national clinical geneticists and a genetic counsellor discuss the logistics and clinical significance of genetics of hearing loss in the new genomics drive of the NHS.
The 63rd Hallpike symposium was hosted in October. Again, a fantastic range of international speakers brought us the latest developments in the ever-evolving world of Meniere’s disease (MD). Topics ranged from diagnosis, medical and surgical management of MD, genetics and imaging of MD. The symposium concluded with a lecture on paediatric MD, an entity that is rarely investigated.
Finally, the National BAAP Audit meeting went ahead in November. This was a platform for consultants and trainees to showcase excellent quality improvement work taking place despite the challenges presented by the ongoing pandemic.
The meeting consisted of a diverse range of subjects that included ABR tests under melatonin-induced sleep, service evaluation projects in congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection, the value of using CT as an imaging modality for pulsatile tinnitus, ear irrigation in children on a background of an online survey, a national survey of audiologists on the cognitive assessment in older adults attending hearing aid clinics, audiological complications of meningitis in children, NICE guidelines for paediatric cochlear implant referrals and also use of The Ready Steady Go questionnaire to facilitate the transition of adolescents to the adult audiology services.
Delegates look forward to the 2022 annual conference in March in Northamptonshire; booking details are available at www.baap.org.uk and all healthcare professionals related to Audiovestibular Medicine are warmly welcome to attend.
Dr Sk Mamun Ur Rashid - ST7 trainee in Audiovestibular Medicine, University College Hospitals London
