Nose
Smell Disorders
Changes in your sense of smell can affect the enjoyment of food, everyday comfort and awareness of hazards. Some people notice that familiar scents become weaker or disappear, while others find that ordinary smells become unpleasant. Assessment helps identify possible causes and appropriate treatment.
Different Types of Smell Disorders
Smell disorders can take several forms:
- Hyposmia: a reduced ability to smell.
- Anosmia: a complete loss of smell.
- Parosmia: familiar smells are perceived differently, often unpleasantly.
- Phantosmia: perceiving a smell when no external source is present.
Smell contributes substantially to flavour. Food may therefore seem bland even when the ability to detect basic tastes, such as sweet or salty, remains intact.
What Can Cause Changes in Smell?
Common causes include respiratory infections, including COVID-19, sinus inflammation, nasal polyps and allergies. Nasal swelling or obstruction may prevent odours from reaching the area responsible for smell.
Other causes include head injuries, smoking, certain medications and age-related changes. Less commonly, conditions affecting the nervous system may contribute. A smell disorder can occur even when nasal breathing feels normal.
How Are Smell Disorders Assessed?
Assessment includes discussing when the change began, whether it followed an illness or injury, and any associated nasal symptoms. Medication use and exposure to irritating chemicals are also relevant.
An ENT examination and standardised smell testing may help assess the problem. These tests can evaluate the ability to detect or identify different odours. Further investigations depend on the history and examination findings.
Treatment Options
Treatment focuses on the underlying cause. Nasal corticosteroid treatment may help when sinus inflammation or nasal polyps are involved. Surgery may be considered for selected patients with an obstruction, but it is not a general treatment for every type of smell loss.
If medication may be contributing, changes should be discussed with the prescribing clinician. Do not stop prescribed medication independently.
Recovery varies. Some people improve over weeks or months, while others experience longer-lasting or permanent changes.
What Is Smell Training?
Smell training involves regularly smelling a selection of distinct, familiar scents while concentrating on recognising them. It may help some people, particularly following a viral illness.
Training usually requires consistent practice over several months. A healthcare professional can explain a suitable approach and realistic expectations. Improvement is not guaranteed, and follow-up can help assess progress.
Everyday Safety and Wellbeing
A reduced sense of smell can make smoke, leaking gas or spoiled food harder to detect.
Keep smoke alarms working and consider an appropriate gas detector if your home uses gas. Follow food storage instructions and use-by dates rather than relying on smell to judge safety.
Tell your clinician if altered smell affects your appetite, weight or emotional wellbeing.
When to Seek an Assessment
Arrange an assessment if your sense of smell does not return to normal within a few weeks, has no clear explanation or interferes with daily life.
Discuss Your Symptoms
Contact the clinic to arrange an assessment for reduced, lost or distorted smell and discuss appropriate next steps.
This information provides general guidance and does not replace an individual medical assessment.
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