Hyposmia refers to a reduced sense of smell, where a person has difficulty detecting or recognising odours as they normally would. This condition can occur due to a variety of reasons, such as nasal congestion from a cold, sinus infections, allergies, or even more chronic conditions like nasal polyps or allergic rhinitis.
Anosmia is the complete loss of the sense of smell. People with anosmia cannot detect any smell, which can affect their ability to enjoy food, recognise dangers like smoke or spoiled food, and sometimes even impact their quality of life. Anosmia can be caused by similar factors as hyposmia, but it can also occur after viral infections, head injuries, or other medical conditions.
Hyposmia (reduced sense of smell) and anosmia (complete loss of smell) can result from a variety of causes, often related to nasal or neurological conditions.
If you experience sudden or persistent changes in your ability to smell, it is important to seek medical attention. These symptoms may be temporary but could also indicate an underlying condition that needs treatment, such as a sinus infection, growths in the nasal passages, or a neurological issue. Early evaluation by a healthcare professional can help identify the cause and provide appropriate care.
Olfactory function tests are specialised assessments used to evaluate a person’s ability to detect, differentiate, and identify odours. These tests help diagnose conditions like hyposmia (reduced sense of smell) or anosmia (complete loss of smell) and provide insights into the underlying causes.
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Smell (Identification) Test Kit1
Our clinic utilises pen-like devices filled with odourants to evaluate 3 key aspects of a person’s sense of smell: Threshold, Discrimination, and Identification.
The threshold test determines the lowest concentration of a specific odour that a person can reliably detect, often using scents that are familiar to the local population.
The discrimination test assesses the ability to differentiate between similar odours by presenting the patient with sets of 3 sticks, where 2 of which have the same scent and asking them to identify the odd one out.
Lastly, the identification test involves presenting familiar scents and asking the patient to name or choose the correct label from multiple-choice options.
Together, these 3 components provide a detailed profile of olfactory performance, helping to diagnose conditions such as hyposmia or anosmia.
The TDI test is the gold standard in olfactory testing as it is user-friendly, and can be adapted across various clinical populations. . It is often used alongside imaging and medical history to pinpoint the underlying causes of smell disorders, from nasal obstructions to neurological conditions.
