BalanceBelt

29/08/2025

Story time: “Exercise and the BalanceBelt brought back my balance and my joy” ✨😊

Tjitske (69) was diagnosed with bilateral vestibular loss (BVL) in 2016. Daily life became a struggle, with constant dizziness and instability.

Through intensive exercise 🏃‍♀️🥊 and the BalanceBelt 🎽, she regained stability, confidence, and energy. The tactile feedback from the belt reduces fatigue, making movement easier and safer.

“With the BalanceBelt, I feel more secure and can push myself without worrying about every step.” 💪

👉 Read Tjitske’s full story here: https://balancebelt.net/en/intensive-exercise-and-the-balancebelt-brought-back-my-balance-and-my-joy/

The story of Tjitske Tjitske (69) was diagnosed in 2016 with bilateral vestibular loss (BVL) after experiencing multiple episodes of vestibular neuritis

03/07/2025

BalanceBelt in the UK!

💡 We share practical tips for UK clinicians and NHS Trusts on making the BalanceBelt accessible to patients — covering prescription pathways, funding, and adoption.

For patients with severe balance disorders like Bilateral Vestibular Loss (BVL) or Unilateral Vestibular Loss (UVL), the BalanceBelt can greatly improve daily life. NHS Trust interest is growing, with teams at UCL, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children already including the BalanceBelt in their care pathways.

Wondering if the BalanceBelt can be prescribed within the NHS?
✅ The answer is yes — and there are multiple ways to make it happen.

👉 Read the full blog here: https://balancebelt.net/en/can-an-nhs-trust-prescribe-balancebelt-this-is-what-you-need-to-know/

📚 For more info about the UK or to discuss a trial: email info@balancebelt.net. We’re here to support you.

Balance disorders can be life-altering. For patients suffering from conditions such as bilateral vestibular hypofunction (BVH) or uncompensated uncompensated unilateral vestibular loss (UVL), daily activities like walking, shopping, or even standing in a crowd can become daunting. These conditions a...

27/05/2025

🌟 Meet Anne – A Warm Welcome to the BalanceBelt Team! 😊

We’re thrilled to have Anne Keusters on board! Since joining us at the end of January, she’s already become essential to our mission of helping people with severe balance disorders.

Anne studied Rehabilitation Sciences & Kinesitherapy at Universiteit Antwerpen and earned her Master’s in Biomedical Sciences (Human Movement Science) from Radboud University Nijmegen. Her passion for understanding human movement is now at the heart of her daily work.

“What I love most? The personal connections. Listening to people’s stories, finding solutions together, and witnessing their confidence return — those moments make my day.” 💬✨

As our Product Support & Customer Care lead, Anne guides both patients and professionals through their BalanceBelt journey, using their feedback to continuously improve our device.

Her mission is simple yet profound: to help as many people as possible regain their balance, freedom, and quality of life—one small device at a time.

Please join us in giving Anne a warm welcome! 👋

19/05/2025

🌟 From a Single Patient to a Global Breakthrough 🌟

Back in 2003, Prof. Herman Kingma met a woman who suffered from severe bilateral vestibular loss. Her life was deeply affected by constant dizziness and imbalance, and there was nothing that could truly help her.

That meeting stayed with him. It became the spark for nearly 20 years of dedicated research, driven by one goal: to give people with vestibular loss their lives back.

This results in two groundbreaking innovations:
🧠 the Vestibular Implant
🩺 and the BalanceBelt.

The BalanceBelt, co-developed by Prof. Kingma and Elitac, is a non-invasive medical device that helps people with severe vestibular loss, helping them move more freely, regain confidence, and feel safe again.

💡 These innovations beautifully combine clinical insight, scientific research, and technology to transform lives and reshape the future of vestibular care.

🔗 Curious about the story and science behind it? Read more: https://www.entandaudiologynews.com/features/audiology-features/post/protheses-for-patients-with-severe-bilateral-vestibular-loss

In February 2003, I met a patient with severe bilateral vestibular loss due to gentamicin toxicity, and I felt disheartened. Despite the fantastic diagnostic vestibular lab we had at Maastricht University Hospital, what could I truly offer her? She had the typical symptoms: severe imbalance, fear of...

08/05/2025

🧠 Balance Quiz!
Which daily activity relies most heavily on your balance system?

A) Brushing your teeth 🦷
B) Reading a book 📖
C) Walking in the dark 🌓
D) Talking on the phone 📞

💡 Hint: One of these becomes a lot harder when your balance system isn’t working properly — especially without visual cues.

Drop your answer in the comments! 👇

And tell us: What are some activities you struggle with when it comes to balance?

01/05/2025

🔬 New Research on Treating Permanent Vestibular Loss

📍 Vertigo Academy International – April 2025, Budapest
Our colleague Souad Haijoub, PhD candidate at the University of Groningen & Maastricht UMC+, proudly represented BalanceBelt at the world’s leading vestibular conference.

🎤 She asked an important question:
➡️ How can we best treat patients with permanent bilateral vestibular loss (BVL)?

🧠 While vestibular rehab remains essential, its impact is often limited. Souad presented two innovative solutions:
• BalanceBelt – already used in clinical care
• Vestibular implant – still in research

📊 Long-term results with the BalanceBelt show:
✔️ Improved balance and mobility
✔️ 79% continue using the belt after 2 years

🔍She is now entering the next phase of her PhD, investigating when and for whom the BalanceBelt is most effective.

🌍 We are proud to be part of this movement towards better care for BVL patients worldwide.

📎 More on her talk: https://balancebelt.net/en/balancebelt-presented-at-vertigo-academy-international/

About a years after diagnosis, I started using the BalanceBelt. And honestly? It changed everything.

29/04/2025

🌍 Balance is something we rarely think about — until it's gone.

For people with bilateral vestibular loss (BVL), everyday activities like walking, turning, or even standing still can become a challenge.

Our inner ear is like a secret guide, helping us stay upright and steady. When both sides are affected, the brain loses an important source of balance information.

Common symptoms of BVL are:
• Feeling unsteady while walking, especially in the dark
• Blurry vision when moving
• A constant sensation of being "off balance"

💡 The good news?
Through rehabilitation, assistive devices as the BalanceBelt, and new technologies, people with BVL can rebuild their stability and confidence.

🔔 We’re working on innovative device to help make balance natural again — because everyone deserves to move freely!

22/04/2025

👋 Meet Stephanie Steggehuis — 34 years old, originally from the Netherlands, now living in Spain.

At 31, Stephanie began experiencing unexplained dizziness and balance issues. Despite years of symptoms, she was repeatedly told, “It’s just stress.”

In 2024, she was finally diagnosed with Bilateral Vestibular Hypofunction (BVH) and oscillopsia — a life-changing moment of both relief and sadness.

Three months ago, she began using the BalanceBelt, and it’s made a real difference:
✅ “I can walk and talk again.”
✅ “I can go into a shopping mall without the world spinning.”
✅ “It does not fix everything, but it gives me a sense of normal again.”

💬 “This belt didn’t just help my balance. It helped me feel safe in my body again.”

Her journey isn’t over, but the BalanceBelt has helped her regain confidence, mobility, and a sense of control.

🔗 Read her full story: https://balancebelt.net/en/stephanie-from-the-netherlands-and-her-balance-belt-story/

17/04/2025

🌍 BalanceBelt on Tour in the UK! 🇬🇧

Over the past few weeks, the BalanceBelt team visited three major events in the UK: the Vestibular Rehabilitation Masterclass at UCL in London, BCIG 2025 in London, and the BAAP 2025 Conference in Birmingham.

🧠 We had inspiring conversations with vestibular physiotherapists, audiologists, neurologists, and ENT specialists—and were honored to be part of the growing dialogue around improving vestibular care.

Across all conferences, one message stood out: traditional vestibular rehab doesn’t always go far enough. As Dr. Paul Bacon from Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust shared:
🔹 10–30% of UVL (Unilateral Vestibular Loss) patients don’t respond well to rehab
🔹 And for 25–66% of BVL (Bilateral Vestibular Loss) patients, results remain limited

💡 That’s where innovative solutions like the BalanceBelt can offer hope. By using haptic feedback to provide real-time information about body position, the BalanceBelt helps restore balance, mobility, and independence—especially for those who haven’t responded to conventional care.

💬 Interested in learning more or exploring how BalanceBelt can help you or your patients? Visit our website or get in touch with us for more information.

10/02/2025

Great user.experience. Contact us if we should refer you to a clinic

Living with Bilateral Vestibular Hypofunction (BVH) sucks. There’s no sugarcoating it.

18/09/2024

During Balance Awareness weekend we have asked our user to share their balance story

“My life has been restored to what it was 5 years ago” I am an 85-year-old grandmother with 4 grandchildren, living on my own, as my husband died last December...

01/05/2024

Individuals with Bilateral Vestibular Hypofunction or Loss may have concern regarding their balance and gait problems.

Read about what this diagnosis means, how to manage it, and more in our recently updated article at vestibular.org/BVH!

[Image text: What you need to know about Bilateral Vestibular Hypofunction or Loss]