Dr Rudrapathy Palaniappan is a highly experienced Consultant Physician in Audiovestibular Medicine with a subspecialty interest in neuro-otology. He has nearly 30 years’ experience in the medical investigation and management of patients with tinnitus, hearing loss, dizziness, and balance disorders, and is widely recognised for his careful, methodical, and evidence-based approach to complex audiovestibular conditions.
His clinical background spans both ENT surgery and physician-led audiovestibular medicine. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London and a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (ENT), and holds postgraduate qualifications in audiological and otolaryngological medicine from University College London, the Royal College of Surgeons of England, and Madras University. This dual training allows him to assess patients holistically, considering otological, neurological, and medical causes of symptoms rather than relying on a single diagnostic perspective.
Dr Palaniappan previously worked as a Consultant Physician in Adult Audiovestibular Medicine and Neuro-Otology at the Royal National ENT & Eastman Dental Hospital, part of University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. He has since retired from NHS practice and now focuses on private clinical work, bringing the same depth of expertise and clinical governance to his patient care.
In addition to his clinical practice, Dr Palaniappan has played a major role in national training and service development. He served two terms as Training Programme Director for Audiovestibular Medicine in London with Health Education England, during which time he chaired the Specialist Training Committee. He was also a member of the Specialist Advisory Committee at the Royal College of Physicians, contributing to specialist training curricula and examination content, and trained several generations of current audiovestibular consultants.
He has been actively involved in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, lecturing on BSc and MSc ENT and audiological science programmes at University College London’s Ear Institute, teaching medical students, and supervising MSc research projects. He has also lectured internationally, including at the Qatar International Conference on Vestibular Assessment and Rehabilitation.
Dr Palaniappan was an expert member of the NICE committee on hearing loss and contributed to the development of national clinical pathways. His research interests include balance disorders and autoimmune inner ear disease, areas in which he continues to apply an evidence-based and clinically focused approach in private practice.
