This article is for
- People who have had post-viral smell loss (including Covid)
- Those who have had head injuries accompanied by some recovery.
Smell training has now been shown in many studies to be a beneficial support to recovery from smell loss. With the pandemic, more research has been published, and without a doubt, it improves the sense of smell.
Why then, do so many people struggle with it? Why are so many turned off, and say “oh I tried that and it didn’t work for me”? The answer is simple: it’s hard to stick with it long enough to feel the benefits. Who hasn’t thought to themselves that just this once they’ll get on with their day instead of settling down to concentrate on their nose?
Add to this that for many, loss of smell is discouraging and depressing, and each training session feels like a reminder of what’s missing in their lives.
What can be done?
Managing the forums both before and after the pandemic has taught me a lot about the way people feel about smell training and their level of confidence with it. Let me share my experiences with you, and perhaps it will help you too.
When my ENT first suggested smell training to me in 2013, it was a throw away comment as I was putting on my coat to leave my appointment. I was devastated, and in a deep depression. He said “oh, there’s something called smell training–you could try that. Just sniff four things twice a day, that’s all”. The moment is frozen in time for me, like a snapshot that I have looked at over and over in the last ten years.
In the train on the way home, I thought about it. How did that even make sense? And if I tried it, how would I know I was doing it “right”? What if I wasted months and months of precious time doing it wrong? What exactly was I supposed to sniff? What if I didn’t make the kit right? Back then, of course, there was nothing like a smell training kit that you could buy.
What I realise looking back is that I had lots of misgivings about smell training, and because I wasn’t sure I was getting it right, I kept wanting to give up. Quickly, though, I could see I was improving. And now? When I talk to people in the ckos Network about their smell training, I am always pleased to see how many people have benefited. Here are some important points to remember:
- Smell training takes a long time. You are rebuilding new neural networks, literally a few cells at a time. You aren’t just flipping a switch back on! So be patient. Think of it as stroke rehabilitation.
- All the insecurity you feel about doing it right is really normal. You’ll find a rhythm that works for you.
- Smell training is more than just putting your nose to a smell. You need to engage your brain when you do it. This turns on the higher parts of the olfactory brain. We smell with our brains! Our noses are just a way to get the smells where they need to go!
- In time, your smell training will bring you to a greater awareness of smell.
- A recent study found that regular support, done through short video sessions, improved how well people were sticking to their training routine
- Smell training is also helpful for depression.
Keep up with your smell training! It’s the most important thing you can do for yourself if you are recovering from post-viral or TBI smell loss.
