WEST MILFORD Now hear this. The West Milford Health Department is hosting an ear wax screening on Wednesday, March 14.
The ear canal is lined with hair follicles and glands that produce waxy oil called cerumen. This is what protects the ear by trapping dust, microorganisms, and other foreign particles, preventing them from entering and damaging the ear. The wax usually makes its way to the opening of the ear where it falls out or is removed by washing. An earwax blockage is an obstruction of the ear canal with the cerumen, or earwax.
Information gathered from Medline Plus states that in some people, the glands produce more wax than can be easily excreted from the ear. This extra wax may harden within the ear canal and block the ear. Many times the ear canal may be blocked further when attempts to clean the ear push the wax deeper into the ear canal and cause blockage. Wax blockage is one of the most common causes of hearing loss.
Symptoms include partial hearing loss - this may be progressive, noises in the ear (tinnitus), earache, fullness in the ear or a sensation that the ear is plugged.
The West Milford Health Department's Ear Wax Removal program is on Wednesday, March 14, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the Health Department in town hall.
Kathy Moskin, R.N., A.P.N.C. will be performing the procedure. Participants will have an option to have their hearing tested by appointment on another day. The fee for this program is $16.
Interested residents should call ahead three days prior to the clinic date to make an appointment and get instructions on using an earwax-softening agent to loosen the wax. Call 973-728-2725 to speak with a nurse to get instructions on how the procedure is done.