Smell disorders: 4 medical articles | Top Doctors

Loss of smell and getting it treated

Anosmia, or loss of smell, is a condition that requires prompt medical attention due to its impact on quality of life. With appropriate diagnosis and treatment, many individuals can regain or improve their sense of smell, although some cases may result in permanent loss. In this informative article, leading consultant rhinologist and ENT surgeon Mr Matt Lechner provides a specialist's insight regarding effective management of this condition.

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24/03/2023

Mr Thomas Jacques

Consultant ENT and Rhinoplasty Surgeon

Smell disorders: all your questions answered

There are a number of different ways in which smells can change. Some people experience a complete loss of the sense of smell, named anosmia. However, for a lot of people some sense of smell remains and it is not as sensitive as it used to be. Partial loss of sense smell is called hyposmia. Patients suffering from smell loss quite often complain of parosmia. Parosmia means there is a distortion of the sense of smell. Common things such as food, drink or perfume start to smell wrong and often quite unpleasant. Less commonly, patients can percieve smells that other people cannot smell. Sometimes they smell an unpleasant smell in their own nose due to sinus problems. Occassionally, some people begin to experience smells that are not there such as the smell of smoke when there is none at all. This is called phantosmia. With smell disorders, quite often the sense of taste is also affected. This is because most of your ability to distinguish between flavours is due to smelling the food that is in your mouth. Your tongue can only detect basic tastes like salt, sour, sweet or bitter. Less commonly, patients can percieve smells that other people cannot smell. Sometimes they smell an unpleasant smell in their own nose due to sinus problems. Occassionally, some people begin to experience smells that are not there such as the smell of smoke when there is none at all. This is called phantosmia. With smell disorders, quite often the sense of taste is also affected. This is because most of your ability to distinguish between flavours is due to smelling the food that is in your mouth. Your tongue can only detect basic tastes like salt, sour, sweet or bitter.

Medical articles of Smell disorders

Loss of smell and getting it treated

Smell disorders: all your questions answered

Losing your sense of smell

COVID and loss of sense of smell (anosmia): who’s likely to get it and how long does it last?