Sheffield hospital is the first in the country to offer virtual reality gaming treatment

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has become the first NHS Trust in the country to use virtual reality gaming to treat visual vertigo in everyday NHS practice.
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has become the first NHS Trust in the country touse virtual reality gaming to treat visual vertigo in everyday NHS practice. Professor Jaydip Ray is pictured with a patient using the virtual reality technologySheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has become the first NHS Trust in the country touse virtual reality gaming to treat visual vertigo in everyday NHS practice. Professor Jaydip Ray is pictured with a patient using the virtual reality technology
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has become the first NHS Trust in the country touse virtual reality gaming to treat visual vertigo in everyday NHS practice. Professor Jaydip Ray is pictured with a patient using the virtual reality technology

The Trust has installed a state-of-the-art virtual reality computer gaming suite at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital to help patents with visual vertigo.

The use of the technology has already led to a dramatic improvement in recovery times for patients suffering with the debilitating condition, with those using the digital landscape and headsets during rehabilitative therapy regaining control of their symptoms within six to eight weeks of starting therapy.

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This compares to six months using traditional rehabilitative therapy.

Professor Jaydip Ray, Clinical Director and Consultant Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon at Sheffield's Royal Hallamshire Hospital, said: 'Visual vertigo is a complex, yet poorly understood condition that can have a profound effect on people's lives, with many finding it impossible to do job roles in the fire or police service that require you to cope with visual challenges.

'Our specialist regional neurotology clinic has already pioneered the use of augmented reality video game consoles with balance boards to help patients, so using hi-end virtual reality gaming systems for rehabilitative therapy for patients with visual vertigo is a natural progression for us.

'Although a small number of patients have been unable to tolerate the system, for those who can we have seen significant improvements in recovery times.

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'These can be hugely transforming and can be key in preventing a deepening sense of depression and isolation, and most patients who have accessed the system are now being symptom-free.'

Teresa Fox, aged 53, who works as a clerical support worker at Weston Park Hospital, is one of the patients who has benefited from virtual reality computer gaming suite as part of her therapy.

She started to have issues with her balance three years ago.

She said: 'It got to the point where I couldn't stand up, everything was spinning, and I felt very nauseous with it.

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'Things started to settle down when I had some treatment and therapy exercises, but a year later it started again, I was having missteps.

'It was such a weird experience. I felt like I was walking normally but then I missed bits, corridors wouldn't look level, and I'd lose my balance.'

Teresa was then referred to the Ear, Nose and Throat Department at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield where she was diagnosed with Meniere's Disease, a condition of the inner ear that causes vertigo, along with visual vertigo. 

To help her better cope with her visual vertigo, she was able to use the virtual reality computer gaming suite as part of her therapy.

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She said: 'Initially I was a bit apprehensive, as I was terrified of spinning out of control, but virtual reality really helped me psychologically as I realised I could cope in certain situations that I didn't think I would be able to.

'I used to really suffer when travelling in a car, walking along corridors, or going up heights but I no longer experience that sensation that I'm moving when I'm stationary.

'I used to dread being in a car, but I don't get nauseous anymore. Nine out of ten times I could cope with walking the stairs at work, but sometimes I'd have a really bad episode, and would have to go up on the lift.

'I still have episodes of visual vertigo now, but they used to occur on a daily basis with an attack coming on in seconds. I'm a lot better than I was and most days are good days now.'

Over time, the technology could be used in patients' homes for self-help therapy