STUDENT: Alyssa Kelly
ADVISOR: Khalid Almasloukh
ABSTRACT:
Olfactory dysfunction is an impairment to the sense of smell. It is a common condition frequently attributed to upper respiratory infections, traumatic brain injuries, and neurodegenerative diseases. Smell disturbances affect about 20% of the general population and have serious impacts on quality of life. It can be dangerous, as environmental hazards such as the smell of smoke or gas leaks are unrecognizable. A person’s sense of smell directly influences their taste and affects socialization in terms of their confidence and wellbeing, as well as their relationships with others. Given the growing prevalence of smell disorders and the increased risk of hazardous situations among those affected, it can be argued that olfactory dysfunction is a public health issue. However, there is a lack of interventions with proven efficacy for the treatment of smell disorders, despite the unique regenerative capacity of the cells that encompass the olfactory epithelium and olfactory tract. Olfactory training has been recently introduced as an intervention that exploits this regenerative ability. It has shown promise with the improvement of olfactory function in select patients who undergo repeated exposures to various odors. Although its precise mechanism of action and effectiveness is minimally understood, olfactory training has been progressively utilized in routine care for patients with olfactory dysfunction. This paper discusses the effects of olfactory training on smell loss recovery for patients with smell impairments.