11/20/2008
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Smell 101 Lessons

Lesson #1
How Does the Sense of Smell Work?

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Lesson #2
Smell Loss

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Lesson #3
I Know What I Like
Understanding Odor Preferences


What are some other types of smell disorders?

In addition to anosomia, other olfactory disorders exist
and they are:

Partial Anosomia: the ability to perceive some odorants and it can be permanent or temporary condition.

Hyposmia or Microsomia: similar to partial anosmia and is a decreased sensitivity to odorants and is usually a temporary condition.

Hypersomia: heightened sense of smell and can be characteristic of neurotic or histrionic personalities and people with multiple chemical intolerances.

Dysosmia: distorted or perverted sense of smell. It may occur with another smell disorder or it may occur alone. Includes Phantosmia, Heterosmia, and Cacosmia.

Phantosomia: when a person reports smelling something and there is no odorant present. Also known as olfactory hallucinations. Epilepsy is a very common cause of this type of disorder. Sometimes the condition is considered psychiatric in origin.

Heterosmia: when all smells are perceived the same way.

Cacosmia: food and vapor smells are disorted

Olfactory Agnosia: inability to recognize an odor sensation.

Otolaryngology: Provides medical and surgical treatment of the ears, nose, and throat

Parosmia: Any disease or perversion of the sense of smell.

Additional Resources: