Ear, Nose and Throat
The IU Health Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) team is a leader in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the head and neck, especially those related to the ear, nose, and throat. Our experienced team of board-certified Otorhinolaryngologist (ENT) physicians, as well as highly trained speech-language pathologists and audiologists, offer otolaryngology care for a lifetime, bringing exceptional care to both children and adults.
The accomplished ENT physicians at IU Health subspecialize in more than a dozen areas including otology, neurotology (the study of the nerves within the ear), surgery of the head and neck, nasal and sinus disorders, voice and swallowing problems, audiology, and upper airway obstruction. IU Health’s surgical capabilities for areas of the head and neck are vast, and include everything from inserting drainage tubes in the ears of a child suffering from frequent and severe ear infections to complex surgery for the removal of a tumor at the base of the skull.
Our priority is to heal patients quickly and in the most comfortable manner. We do this by implementing innovative techniques, and offering the most advanced and comprehensive ENT care in the region, including:
- Extensive experience with both adult and pediatric Balloon Sinuplasty™, providing a less invasive treatment for sinus blockage, with faster recovery times
- One of the largest pediatric cochlear implant centers in the world and the only one in Indiana funded by the National Institutes of Health.
- The latest technology in all types of otolaryngology surgery, including reconstructive, head and neck tumor, nasal and endoscopic sinus, and thyroid and parathyroid surgery
- All-encompassing Speech and Hearing Program including the Sursa Infant Speech Perception Laboratory, furthering language development in infants and toddlers with hearing loss
Ear, Nose and Throat Treatment
At IU Health, our ENT experts use the most advanced treatments to manage a full spectrum of ear, nose and throat disorders, including:
- Dizziness
- Earaches
- Head and neck cancer
- Hearing loss
- Sinus disease
- Snoring
- Sore throats
- Swimmer’s ear
- Tonsil and adenoid problems
We take the time to get to know our patients, conducting an extensive diagnostic review so we can understand each patient’s needs and recommend the most effective medical care. Treatment options include:
Balloon Sinuplasty™ (adult and pediatric)
This surgical option to open blocked sinuses is less invasive than traditional sinus surgery and offers a quicker recovery time. Using endoscopes (microscopic scopes placed into the nose) and a catheter-based system to access the sinuses, surgeons are able to open sinuses and provide immediate relief.
Available Services:
IU Health Arnett Balloon Sinuplasty™ Care
Riley at IU Health Balloon Sinuplasty™ Care
Bone Anchored Hearing Aids
For patients with hearing loss who cannot benefit from a regular hearing aid, this implantable hearing device works by directly stimulating the inner ear through the bone. It is most often used to improve hearing in patients with chronic infections of the ear canal or the middle ear (area behind the ear drum), people with a very narrow ear canal or an absent ear canal due to a congenital ear malformation, and people who are deaf in one ear.
Chronic Ear Disease Treatment
The physicians at IU Health utlize a full range of therapies to help patients suffering from chronic ear disease due to eustachian tube obstruction from allergies or other head and neck problems. Treatments range from antibiotic ear drops to the insertion of ventilation tubes into the eardrum or more advanced surgery.
Available Services:
IU Health Arnett Chronic Ear Disease Care
Riley at IU Health Chronic Ear Disease Care
Surgical Treatment
Our expert team at IU Health perform a variety of surgical procedures, including:
- Ear reconstructive surgery includes remodeling of the middle ear and mastoid bone, located just behind the external ear. This procedure helps prevent recurrence of disease, in addition to preserving or offering improved hearing. In addition, if a patient’s condition requires, surgical reconstruction of the airway, as well as long segment tracheal stenosis can be completed.
- Head and neck tumor surgery is used to eliminate a wide variety of benign and malignant tumors of the head and neck, including those that affect the salivary glands, thyroid, tongue, lips, throat, and skin.
- Nasal and endoscopic sinus surgery, also called endoscopy or sinoscopy, removes blockages in the sinuses that cause painful sinusitis and often impair breathing. Surgeons use the endoscope to shine light into the sinus cavities and remove the blockages found.
- Thyroid and parathyroid surgery is used to remove diseased tissue on hormone-producing endocrine glands, located in your neck. Less invasive techniques are allowing surgeons to leave more healthy tissue during surgery, increasing success rates and reducing recovery time for patients.
Available Services:
IU Health Arnett Surgical Care
Riley at IU Health Surgical Care
Voice Disorders
The IU Health ENT team includes physicians who specialize in evaluating and treating voice disorders brought on from misuse of vocal cords, allergies, or cancer. Using the latest therapies, medication and sometimes surgery, we are helping patients get back to singing, speaking, breathing and swallowing without pain.
Available Services:
IU Health Arnett Voice Disorders Care
Riley at IU Health Voice Disorders Care
Pediatric
At IU Health, we know ENT disorders are not uniform conditions. Our pediatric ENT treatments are designed specifically for children, ensuring they receive the best possible care with a compassionate touch.
Our fellowship trained otologists/neurotologists and pediatric otolaryngologists offer care for the full spectrum of pediatric ENT problems, including otitis media, chronic ear infections, cholesteatoma, evaluation of hearing loss and treatment of hearing loss utilizing hearing aids, surgery, or cochlear implants. Riley Children’s Hospital at IU Health was instrumental in the federal approval for the use of cochlear implants in infants and children and remains one of the largest pediatric cochlear implant centers in the world as well as the only one in the state funded by the National Institutes of Health. In addition, the Riley at IU Health team is a pioneer in the new field of brain stem implants for the hearing impaired.
Other special services for pediatric ENT patients include:
Available Services:
Riley at IU Health Pediatric Care
Ear, Nose and Throat Team
IU Health ENT offers a complete spectrum of care for conditions affecting head and neck, including the ear, nose, and throat. Our experience means better care and more sophisticated treatment options to more patients.
