Anosmia is typically defined as an absence in the ability to smell, which can either be temporary or permanent. Those who have temporary or sudden onset anosmia typically have it worse off than those with congenital anosmia (people who were born without the sense, like me). Those with sudden onset often exhibit symptoms of depression and a loss of appetite.
Congenital anosmiacs for the most part feel normal, as they have nothing else to compare it to; however, in either case anosmia can be very dangerous as anosmiacs cannot smell body odors, fire, gas, or spoiled food. As for assistance with this disability, anosmiacs can find comfort in smoke and special gas detectors; however, there’s really not much to help with detecting body odor or spoiled foods, and deodorants and expiration dates can only get you so far.
And as far as anosmia goes, that’s about all I know about it. Over the life of this blog, I plan to continue my research in anosmia and share my questions, findings, favorite links, etc. to anyone who wants the info.
If you know anything I don’t, or have found a mistake in what I’ve described above, please feel free to correct me in the comments or send me an email.
- Jun 4, 10:42 AM
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1 · Shauna · Dec 22, 01:51 PM
I was also born without a sense of smell and I have actually been to the doctors and received a CT scan to see if there was anything wrong, and there wasn’t. And especially lately I have been wondering what it is like to smell and now I know that I will probably never be able to smell, which sucks because I am taking Culinary Arts.
2 · Jane · Jan 6, 09:37 PM
I am not able to smell but, I have done a lot of
faking. I was checked out many years ago and the doctor said “nothing he could do about it”
I was hoping they might have found a cure or help.
3 · Alicem · Jan 6, 04:01 AM
Hello from Turkey,
I have lost my sense of smell and taste about a year ago. The cause is chronic (allergic) sinusitis. Thanks for creating such a blog. Because it is not a common disease it’s hard to find people who share same kind of experience. I find congenital type more lucky, because they don’t know what they are missing. Sad thing is I knew what my daughter smelled like before.
4 · Rich Turner · Jan 18, 05:34 PM
I am also a congenital anosmic. I had an MRI and had a 2cm pituitary tumor removed but apparently it was unrelated to my anosmia. My drs best guess was that maybe i was dropped as a child.
5 · LISA · Feb 7, 11:44 AM
I AM A BORN ANOSMIA AND UNTIL LAST YEAR DIDN’T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT WAS CALLED. I’M SORRY TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAD THE SENSE OF SMELL AND THEN LOST IT, BECAUSE YOU UNFORTUNATELY KNOW WHAT YOUR MISSING. I’VE NEVER SMELLED ANYTHING AND FIND IT HILARIOUS WHEN SOMEONE FARTS OR THERE’S A ROTTEN SMELL IN THE AIR THAT EVERYONE HAS TO SMELL, BUT ME. AS FAR AS MISSING OUT ON THE GOOD SMELLS, ITS HARD TO BE UPSET SINCE I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I’M MISSING. AND AS FAR AS FOOD GOES, I LOVE TO EAT. I BELIEVE THAT MAYBE MY TASTEBUDS ARE SOMEWHAT DULLED BECAUSE I CAN’T SMELL, BUT SINCE I HAVE NOTHING TO COMPARE IT TO, I KNOW I CAN TASTE DIFFERENT THINGS AND FOOD IS DELICIOUS! NO ONE SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF OR HIDE THE FACT THAT THEY CAN’T SMELL. THERE’S NO REASON TO PRETEND. JUST SHOWER DAILY, KEEP UP ON YOUR HYGIENE, AND AT LEAST IF OTHER PEOPLE KNOW, THEY CAN TELL YOU IF YOU SMELL OR IF SOMETHING YOUR ABOUT TO EAT DOESN’T SMELL RIGHT.
6 · DanielK · May 9, 03:35 PM
I unfortunately have congenital anosmia and i just realized this today. my whole life i believed that it was just allergy’s but as im reading more and more i am convinced the i was born without a sense of smell and it is good to know that i am not the only person with this very rare defect
7 · Daymein · Nov 19, 02:52 PM
I was inflicted with anosmia last year after I was assault and received a head injury which in turn caused me to lose my smell and I am really struggling to cope with it and because i got it thru a head injury the doctors tell me the chance of it coming back are very slim. here is hoping they find some way to bring it back. life is a struggle with no smell after smelling for the past 36 years then to just lose it like that. is hard to cope with compared I guess to never smelling because if you have never smelt it then you can’t miss it i guess. well thank you for your time and here is hoping they find a cure for anosmia so we can all smell the wonders in life.
8 · aaronanalog · Nov 20, 12:38 AM
I was born without a sense of smell and limited taste. The neat thing is I have super powers when it comes to hearing and vision.
9 · jennifer · Jan 3, 08:41 PM
ever since i was little i remember i never could smell my family members never belived me till one of our friends took a real bad fart he made everyone run out the room and i stayed in their it didnt seem to bother me. till i was 17 i was home w/ my 3yr old toddler during the day when my husband came home he woke me up and said “hey why does it smell like gas?” that scared the crap out of me so eventually i went to see a dr and he stuck a tube up my nose he did a couple of tests i faild them all. The DR. said something about me haveing inflamation in my nasal cavity and some other stuff i didnt understand he asked me questions about passed health problems all i told him is that i remember my step-father hit my nose it didnt bleed but it hurt like hell. i was supposed to go back get more tests done to see if i needed surgery but i got scared and never went back ….till now im 29yrs old and ive been putting my kids to smell this and that they get tired of me telling them to smell things i feel bad putting them through that even at stores or when i do laundry or i cook and at times they wont eat and say the food taste ugly i really wanna see whats wrong but im scared…..can someone give me some advise?