Kira VonBlon, M.S., CCC-A, director of audiology at Total Hearing Solutions, and Jamie Gabbard, Au.D., Professional Hearing Healthcare, will present two tinnitus seminars:

• Tuesday, January 24, 10:30 a.m.-noon, Monon Community Center, 1235 Central Park Drive East, Carmel, Indiana

• Tuesday, January 24, 6-7:30 p.m., Total Hearing Solutions, 12065 Old Meridian St., Ste. 200, Carmel, Indiana

Only the Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment Device is clinically proven to offer long-term significant relief from tinnitus. This patented treatment method is FDA-cleared, noninvasive and customized for each patient to address the root causes of tinnitus.

To RSVP, call Tammy Johnson at Total Hearing Solutions at (317) 705-2700 or email: tjohnson@northsideent.com.

Total Hearing Solutions, a division of Northside ENT, has been helping hearing-impaired patients in Central Indiana since 1977.

Physician peers have repeatedly named both board certified otolaryngologists top docs in previous surveys.

Indianapolis Monthly magazine partners with Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. to take the guesswork out of choosing a doctor. The independent researchers survey thousands of doctors to identify the top five percent of board certified physicians in the Indianapolis metropolitan area.

Dr. Hackett

Scott A. Hackett, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Dr. Hackett joined Northside ENT in 1991. He also serves on the board of Naab Road Surgery Center.

The ear, nose and throat specialist is a past president of the department of otolaryngology – head and neck surgery at St. Vincent Hospital.

Active in patient care and medical education, Dr. Hackett has been named “Specialty Teacher of the Year” twice by St. Vincent Hospital family medicine residents. He has trained residents in this program since 1991.

He graduated from Indiana University School of Medicine with highest distinction. The doctor also completed specialty training in otolaryngology – head and neck surgery in Indianapolis.

Dr. Hackett is a fellow in the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, American College of Surgeons and American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons.

He is a member of the Indiana State Medical Association and Central Indiana Otolaryngology Society. Dr. Hackett is also an associate member of the Radiological Society of North America.

The ENT specialist sees patients of all ages with diseases and disorders of the head and neck. Special interests include minimally invasive treatment of parathyroid and sinus disorders; thyroid surgery; voice problems and pediatric diseases.

Dr. Hackett and his wife Tricia have two children, Stephanie and Emerson. Mrs. Hackett is a member of the school board for Carmel Clay Schools.

Dr. Youkilis

Robert A. Youkilis, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Dr. Youkilis is chairman of the department of otolaryngology at St. Vincent Hospital. Dr. Youkilis also serves on the board of directors at Carmel Ambulatory Surgery Center.

He completed medical school at the University of Cincinnati and a residency in otolaryngology – head and neck surgery at Indiana University Medical Center.

Dr. Youkilis is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

He is a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery and Central Indiana Otolaryngology Society.

Dr. Youkilis’ special interests include the treatment of sinus disease, conditions of the thyroid, voice problems, parathyroid glands, pediatric otolaryngology, snoring and sleep apnea. He is also very interested in treating chronic sinusitis and allergies.

He and his wife Tina, a board certified adult nurse practitioner, have three sons. Mrs. Youkilis, a board certified adult nurse practitioner, teaches at Indiana University School of Nursing.

For more information, call (317) 844-5656.

Seth D. Bruggers, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Northside ENT proudly welcomes our newest board certified otolaryngologist Seth D. Bruggers, M.D., F.A.C.S.

A graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School, he completed his internship and residency in otolaryngology – head & neck surgery at Saint Louis University Hospital.

Dr. Bruggers sees pediatric and adult patients, and enjoys the full range of otolaryngology, especially voice disorders, conditions of the thyroid and parathyroid glands, and reconstructive surgery of the head & neck. He has published several articles on endoscopic sinus surgery and has presented at state and national meetings.

His wife, Rebecca, is a physician assistant in orthopedic surgery. They enjoy spending time with their three-year-old twins, Benjamin and Allison. Fluent in Spanish, Dr. Bruggers has an active interest in international medical missions.

We hope you will call Northside ENT at 317.844.5656 or 800.556.5456 to make an appointment.

Our certified audiologists invite you to join them on Wednesday, April 27, 6-7 p.m. to learn more about managing chronic tinnitus. Total Hearing Solutions, a division of Northside ENT, is located at 12065 Old Meridian St., Suite 205, in Carmel.

Only the Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment Device is clinically proven to offer long-term significant relief from tinnitus. This patented treatment method is FDA-cleared, noninvasive and customized for each patient to address the root causes of tinnitus.

Please call Total Hearing Solutions at (317) 705-2700 to reserve your seat.

Not so many of us take care of our vocal cords in this communication-based society.

Each year on April 16, voice specialists around the world recognize World Voice Day. This year’s theme “We Share a Voice” reminds us of the importance of vocal health in everyday life.

There are limits to what your voice can do. And you can damage your vocal cords. Maybe you talk too loud in a crowded restaurant.

Or simply talk too much. With viral laryngitis, you can scar your vocal cords by simply trying to talk through it.

Usually, you don’t have pain when you’re developing a voice disorder. But you don’t want to end up with cancerous nodes. If you’ve been hoarse longer than two weeks, see a voice specialist as soon as possible.

We can always improve or maintain good voice habits.

Professional athletes practice long hours to play at their level. But we tend to forget that professional singers aren’t simply born with voices that sound so good.

Our vocal cords need to be tuned and taken care of just like a piano. Whether you want to sing or speak more effectively, you can train and get a better sounding voice. A simple first step is to drink plenty of water to keep your vocal cords lubricated.

A baseline videostrobe exam is also a good idea so a specialist will have a video record for comparison in case you get sick.

Performance Voice Solutions, a division of Northside ENT, is in Carmel, Indiana.

The American Medical Association and independent researchers The Lewin Group reported these statistics from a new study.

Office-based physicians in Indiana paid $9.6 billion in wages and benefits, and $581.4 million in taxes.

“Most people don’t think of physician practices as small businesses. As such, they contribute greatly to the economic vitality of our local communities and state,” Brent Mohr, M.D., Indiana State Medical Association president, says.

Office-based physicians almost always generate more for state economies than hospitals, law firms, nursing homes and home health organizations.

To read more about the report, visit the American Medical Association.

Your office-based doctors face a 22-25 percent cut in Medicare reimbursement unless Congress acts to permanently correct a flawed formula that determines these rates.

To keep your office-based physicians, please make your voice heard.

Sign the Medicare petition.

Let your representative know how you feel.

Northside ENT has provided uncompromising ear, nose and throat care in Central Indiana since 1977.

To help prevent getting dementia, spend more time with friends and hobbies; take steps to avoid getting diabetes and high blood pressure; and get hearing aids when needed.

This five-minute test can guide you in knowing if it might be time to get help.

Results

If you are having one more more of these problems, it’s time to improve the quality of your life.

A certified audiologist can tell you the exact nature of your hearing loss and give you a proper diagnosis. For more information, call Total Hearing Solutions at (317) 705-2700.

When symptoms last longer than two weeks and come on suddenly with a vengeance, you may have allergies.

Allergies are caused by an overactive immune system. Your body can mistake noninfectious substances for “germs.” Examples include plant pollen, mold, dust mites, animal hair, chemicals, food, medicine and insect venom.

When that happens, your system goes into attack mode against those “allergens” and produces “cold” symptoms. Allergies are not contagious.

Colds usually go away in less than two weeks and are caused by infectious germs, which are contagious.

To make an appointment with a Northside ENT allergy specialist, call (317) 844-5656.

Patients can get relief through lifestyle changes.

The following Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) (Koufman, Belafsky, Postma, et.al 2002) uses nine items to help you rate the severity of your condition specific to LPR.

A score of 10 or more on the following quiz is considered clinically significant.

Within the last month, how did the following problems affect you?

0 = No Problem 5 = Significant Problem

The first line of defense is behavioral:

Diet Dos

• Eat slowly
• Eat sitting up
• Eat smaller meals
• Avoid overeating
• Chew food thoroughly
• No food 2-3 hours before bedtime
• Restrict liquid/food intake before singing and/or lifting, bending or stooping

Diet Don’ts

• Alcohol
• Soda
• Citrus juice
• Tea/coffee
• Breath fresheners
• Mints
• Milk
• Chocolate
• Spicy and/or fried foods
• Lozenges and cough drops
• Tomato products
• Tobacco

For one week, write down what you eat and drink through the day along with symptoms in the morning, afternoon and evening. This will help identify what affects your gastric reflux more.

Posture & Weight Dos

• Achieve and/or maintain your ideal weight
• Expand your abdomen when breathing in

Posture & Weight Don’ts

• Exercise right after eating
• Tight clothing around your waist
• Slumping down in a chair
• Heaving lifting
• Kneeling
• Bending at the waist

Other Lifestyle Modifications

• Stop smoking
• Reduce stress and tension
• Avoid sedatives
• Sleep with the head of your bed elevated 4-6 inches via cinder blocks, wood or bricks under the legs of your bed
• Sleep on your side, preferably your left side

Remember, acid reflux at the level of the larynx (LPR) is often “silent”. Positive or negative results from this quiz do not necessarily correlate with positive or negative results upon examination.

For more information, talk with a voice specialist at Performance Voice Solutions at (317) 705-2732.

Clean your hearing aids every day with a soft dry cloth for years of trouble free service.

For detailed information about cleaning your hearing aids, call your certified audiologist.

You can contact Total Hearing Solutions, a division of Northside ENT, at (317) 705-2700.