Preeti Patel
Operations Director​ & Business Development Manager

Preeti serves as the Operations & Business Development Manager at Harley Street Audiovestibular Clinic, bringing over 20 years of experience within the NHS and extensive expertise in healthcare management. Her leadership is key to the clinic’s operational excellence and strategic development.

In her multifaceted role, Preeti oversees all aspects of the clinic’s daily operations—including clinical coordination, logistics, and service delivery—while also spearheading business development initiatives. She has successfully negotiated collaborations with major healthcare companies and built strategic alliances that have expanded the clinic’s reach and reputation.

Preeti possesses in-depth expertise in working with private health insurance providers, ensuring the clinic maintains strong relationships with major insurers and offers seamless, compliant, and patient-friendly access to insured care. Her knowledge of the insurance landscape enables efficient billing processes, contract negotiation, and service integration that support both clinical and commercial goals.

Her strategic thinking, combined with a patient-centered approach, helps position the clinic as a leader in audiovestibular care. Preeti remains committed to delivering a high-quality experience for patients and partners alike while aligning operational execution with long-term growth.

Vestibular Physiotherapy

Balance is a complex process that relies on the integration of multiple systems including the vision, proprioception (joint position sense), brain (neurology) and the inner ear vestibular system. When any part of this system is impaired, it can lead to symptoms such as dizziness, vertigo, nausea, visual disturbances, and a general feeling of unsteadiness or imbalance.

Vestibular Physiotherapy is a specialised form of rehabilitation designed to retrain the brain to an inner ear balance organ disorder.

At Harley Street Audiovestibular Clinic, our carefully selected Vestibular Physiotherapists are highly skilled with many years of experience in vestibular rehabilitation, able to help a wide variety of patients with balance disorders working closely alongside our medical and audiology teams.

Our vestibular physiotherapists are able to tailor rehabilitation to each individual’s needs and requirements. Rehabilitation may include specific exercises to promote vestibular adaptation, gaze stabilization, visual desensitization, balance retraining, and habituation techniques designed to reduce dizziness and improve stability.

The goal is to restore your sense of equilibrium in a safe, structured, and effective manner, empowering you to return to daily activities with confidence and control.

Dr Arun Pajaniappane

• MBBS,  FRCP (London), MRCS, DOHNS, BSc (Hons), MSc (Merit)
• Consultant Physician in Audiovestibular Medicine
• Honorary Senior Lecturer
• Hon Secretary British Association of Audiovestibular Physicians
• Director Harley Street Audiovestibular Clinic
• 86 Harley Street, London, W1G 7HP.
• www.harleyavm.com

Biography

Dr Arun (as he is known to his patients) is our practice manager and a medical consultant at St George’s University Hospitals in Tooting, one of the UK’s largest Audiovestibular medicine units. With a specialist interest in dizziness & vertigo and this being his main workload, and he has gained huge experience having helped hundreds of patients. He also sees patients with hearing loss & tinnitus for medical investigations and advising on management.

Aside clinical medicine, Dr Pajaniappane proudly serves as Honorary Secretary to the British Association of Audiovestibular Physicians, and is coming to the end of his term as Chairperson of the Publicity Committee. He is a big advocate for patients with audio-vestibular disorders and has been passionate about raising awareness of the poorly know speciality of Audiovestibular Medicine to long suffering patients.

Dr Pajaniappane has an active passion and interest in audiovestibular research, particularly Vestibular Migraine and PPPD. His work has been presented at various national and international forums. He has also been an invited author to write chapters in high profile books including on Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder (ANSD).

Following qualification from the Royal Free & University College London Medical School (BSc and MBBS), Dr Pajaniappane trained in General Medicine and Surgery prior to specialist training in ENT surgery (otolaryngology), and successfully obtaining relevant qualifications (MRCS & DOHNS). Due to his interest in the human balance system and space travel, he then switched training to Audiovestibular Medicine, after also taking a year out to study his Master’s degree which was obtained with Merit.

Dr Pajaniappane has been working as a Consultant in Audiovestibular Medicine at St George’s hospital for the past few years. He has been establishing the research and academic credentials of the department and has recently been awarded research funding as part of an innovative, high profile, national multi-centre trial.

Dr Pajaniappane enjoys treating both children and adults.

Dr Benjamin Shaw MBBS BSc(Hons) PGCert(Dist) MRCP(UK)

Consultant Physician in Audiovestibular Medicine

GMC Registration 7169679

Biography

Dr Shaw is a Consultant Physician in Audiovestibular Medicine and Neuro-otology. He is a medical specialist in the diagnosis and management of dizziness, balance disorders, tinnitus and hearing loss. 

After studying medicine at University College London, he completed Foundation and then Core Medical Training, before specialising in Audiovestibular Medicine within the Pan-London training programme. He trained at leading institutes including St George’s Hospital, the Royal National Throat Nose & Ear Hospital, The Nuffield Hearing & Speech Centre and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children. 

Dr Shaw is a member of the Royal College of Physicians and was awarded a Distinction in the Post-Graduate certificate in ‘Otology & Audiology’ from the UCL Ear Institute. He has presented at national meetings and conferences, has been published in several peer reviewed journals, and was awarded the prestigious 2020 ‘Pat Jobson Prize’ by the British Association of Audiovestibular Physicians for services to Audiovestibular Medicine. He is passionate about training the next generation of doctors, and lectures on dizziness and imbalance at St George’s University of London Medical School.

Dr Shaw is a full-time Consultant in Audiovestibular Medicine at Epsom & St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust. Known for his expert knowledge, compassionate nature and excellent communication, Dr Shaw greatly enjoys working in partnership with his patients, ensuring he provides effective, holistic and patient-centred care.

Dr. R Palaniappan MBBS, MS, DLO, FRCS, MSc, FRCP

Consultant in Audio-vestibular Medicine/ Hon. Sr. Lecturer
Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital/ UCLH NHS Foundation Trust
330 Grays Inn Road
LONDON, WC1X 8DA
United Kingdom.
GMC Full Registration with license to practice 4178004

Dr. Rudrapathy Palaniappan is a Consultant Physician in Audiovestibular Medicine with subspecialty interest in neuro-otology. His specialist field involves medical investigation and management of patients with tinnitus, hearing loss, and balance disorders. Dr Palaniappan is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh with a specialist qualification (FRCS) in ENT surgery. He holds a post-graduate diploma (DLO) in ENT surgery from the Royal College of Surgeons of England and MSc degree in Audiological Medicine from University College London. He has been made a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London in the year 2013. I have nearly 30 years’ experience in managing patients with tinnitus, hearing loss, and balance problems.

Dr Palaniappan works as a part-time Consultant Physician in the adult Audiovestibular medicine & Neuro-otology department at the Royal National ENT & Eastman Dental Hospital, which is part of UCLH NHS Foundation Trust. He currently does one neuro-otology clinic and one audiological rehabilitation clinic per week as well as a special hearing clinic for thalassaemia sufferers. He is actively involved in teaching BSc/ MSc students in ENT/audiological science courses at UCL Ear Institute and medical students. He is a clinical supervisor and train specialist registrars in Audiovestibular Medicine.

Dr Palaniappan was an expert member in the NICE (National Institute of Clinical Excellence) committee on hearing loss and contributed to the development of clinical pathway. He has completed two terms as Audiovestibular Medicine Training Programme Director (TPD) for Health Education England, when he also chaired the Specialist Training Committee (STC). He was a member of the SAC (Specialist Advisory Committee) for Audiovestibular Medicine at the Royal College of Physicians and actively contributed to writing knowledge based questions and answers for the specialist training programme.

MEDICAL QUALIFICATIONS
FRCP RCP London June 2013
Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training Audiological Medicine March 1999
MSc (Audiological Medicine) University College London November 1997
FRCS (Otolaryngology) RCS Edinburgh March 1995
DLO RCS England October 1991
PLAB Examination GMC London January 1990
MS (Otolaryngology) Madras University March 1986
DLO Madras University April 1985
MBBS Madras University March 1983

PRESENT POST
1 Jan.2002 – till date
SENIOR CONSULTANT
Department of Audiovestibular Medicine/ Neuro-otology
Royal National ENT & Eastman Dental Hospital
London, United Kingdom.

MEMBER OF LEARNED SOCIETIES
Member of the Royal College of Physicians
Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
British Association of Audiovestibular Physicians (ex-member of BAAP publicity committee, representative to UK council on deafness)
British Medical Association
University of London Convocation
CHAIN member
Neuro-otological and Equilibriometric Society (NES), Bad Kissingen, Germany
Indian Medical Association
Association of Otolaryngologists of India
Association of Paediatric Otolaryngologists of India

PUBLICATIONS/ ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES
Tinnitus/dtb-BMJ group, article reviewed and comments made. Nov 2012.
Chan C, Palaniappan R. Middle Ear Myoclonus: A New Technique for Suppression of Spontaneous Clicking Tinnitus. International Tinnitus Journal. 2010; 16(1):51-4.
Ratnayake Sudhira, Pajaniappane A, Palaniappan R. Unusual Presentation of Pulsatile Tinnitus – Case Reports. XVth Anniversary Symposium in Audiological Medicine; September 19-22, 2010; Krakow, Poland.
Kowdley H, Palaniappan R. Enlarged Vestibular Aqueduct – An Important Radiological Marker in Branchio Oto-renal and Pendred’s Syndrome (2007); Asian Journal of Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) Vol.10; Issue: 4; 13
Nandi R, Pajaniappane A, Palaniappan R. Real-time video recording of eye movements-an inexpensive system-Short Communication, The Journal of Laryngology & Otology, 1of 2; 2007.
Palaniappan R, Balance disorders in adults – Chapter15, Topics on Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Andrew Swift (Ed); Quay Books, A division of MA Health Care Books (2006); pages 142-150.
Dizziness and Tinnitus care pathways for “Medic to Medic” programme, available on the Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust (Free-net) website.
Palaniappan R. How to differentiate problematic dizziness; Pulse Clinical, December 2003: 44-47.
Palaniappan R, Griggs A. Helping patients cope with tinnitus; Pulse Clinical, July 2003: 40-43.
Palaniappan R. Balance disorders in adults-an overview; Hospital Medicine, May 2002; 63/5: 278-81.
Palaniappan R, Sirimanna T. Peripheral vestibular dysfunction in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome; International Journal of Paediatric Otorhinolaryngology; 64 (2002) 69-72.
Palaniappan R. The role of Audiological Physician in the Modern National Health Service (NHS); ENT News Nov/Dec 01; 10/5:61-62.
Palaniappan R, Snashall S, Woodcock J. Bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss following pneumococcal meningitis in sickle cell disease-case report; CME Bulletin – Otorhinolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery.
Palaniappan R. Letter to the Editor ‘ENT News’ 1999; 8/3: 45.
Jayarajan V, Palaniappan R. Hearing Impairment – An unusual presentation of cerebral atrophy. CME Bulletin – Otorhinolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery 1998; 2/2: 67-68.
Palaniappan R. “Peripheral vestibular dysfunction in ME syndrome”, Electronic Publication – abstract in the BAAP web site.
Palaniappan R, Jayarajan V. “Patient Information Leaflets (PILs) – Do people read them?” a preliminary report, Electronic Publication – abstract in the BAAP web site.
Palaniappan R, Jayarajan V. “Neuro-otological manifestations of Multiple Myeloma”, Electronic Publication – abstract in the BAAP web site.
Palaniappan R, Reddy KS. Solitary Bony Metastasis in a case of Carcinoma of the Laryngopharynx. Indian Journal of Otolaryngology 1987; 39/3: 130-31.

TEACHING
Dr Palaniappan teaches regularly in various audiovestibular courses at the Ear Institute. I lectured in the 1st Qatar International Conference on Vestibular Assessment and Rehabilitation in DOHA between the 6th and 8thJanuary 2012. I supervise MSc student projects as required, at regular intervals.

RESEARCH INTEREST
i. Balance Disorders
ii. Autoimmune ear disease

Anita Wong
Lead Audiologist

Biography
Anita is our lead Audiologist and is an expert in the field of Audiovestibular Testing with both children and adults with hearing and balance disorders. She is also Deputy Lead and Senior Audiologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.

Anita qualified from the University of Manchester in 2009 and has over 10 years’ experience in Audiology. She has sound knowledge on various diagnostic assessments and rehabilitation. She has experience fitting a range of hearing aids and bone anchored implantable devices.

Anita has been invited to deliver lectures at various prestigious national and international courses, and regularly trains and teaches the next generation of audiologists.

Anita is an integral part of the team at Harley Street Audiovestibular Clinic, working closely together with Audiovestibular Medicine Doctors to provide the highest quality care to our patients and striving to ensure the best quality standards.

David Scott
PhD, DClinPsy, CPsychol

Biography
David is a Chartered Psychologist and offers tinnitus therapy remotely. He is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council as a Practitioner Psychologist. He has worked in a range of health services for the past 25 years. He specialises in psychological management of tinnitus and sleep disorders.He also has an interest in misophonia. David has co-authored several articles and book chapters on the management of tinnitus.