Imagine that nostalgia inducing smell of cooking around the campfire? Or the panic inducing smell of something burning in the oven. But what if you can’t smell?
Anosmia is the inability to smell. It could be something a person is born with or a person could suffer some sort of trauma that results in either a temporary or permanent inability to smell.
There are several different types of anosmia, including complete anosmia, where the person is unable to detect any odors, and partial anosmia, where the person can detect some but not all odors.
Other types of anosmia include selective anosmia, where the person can detect some odors but not others, and functional anosmia, where the person has the ability to detect odors but is unable to recognize them.
People who suffer with anosmia may be fortunate and the condition will clear after finishing taking certain medications. Or sometimes surgery is an option.
A loss of smell can also be a symptom of neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
Some studies have shown that people with anosmia have a decreased ability to detect and respond to certain emotions through smell.
Teresa McGillivray, Members with Disabilities Representative
PSAC Ontario Regional Council