Home › ENT Conditions in Gangnam, Seoul

Loss of Smell (Anosmia) Evaluation in Gangnam, Seoul

Medically reviewed by Dr. Kim Yoo Suk, MD · Board-certified otolaryngologist · Former professor, Yonsei & Ajou University · Consultations in English

What is loss of smell?

Olfactory dysfunction is any decrease or distortion of the sense of smell. Anosmia means complete loss, hyposmia means reduced smell, and parosmia means familiar odors smell distorted, often unpleasant. Because much of what we call "taste" is actually smell, people often notice food tasting bland first.

Smell matters for safety, too: it warns of smoke, gas leaks and spoiled food.

Two main mechanisms

• Conductive loss – odor molecules cannot reach the olfactory cleft high in the nose because of swelling, polyps or mucus.
• Sensorineural loss – the olfactory nerve cells or brain pathways are damaged, for example after a virus or head injury.

Common causes

• Chronic sinusitis and nasal polyps – the leading treatable causes
• Allergic rhinitis and severe congestion
• Post-viral olfactory loss after colds, influenza or COVID-19
• Head trauma injuring the olfactory nerve fibers
• Aging (presbyosmia)
• Smoking, certain medications and chemical exposures
• Rarely, neurological conditions or tumors near the olfactory region

How it is diagnosed at our Gangnam clinic

Dr. Kim asks how and when the loss began, whether it fluctuates, and whether it followed an infection or injury. Nasal endoscopy examines the olfactory cleft for polyps or swelling. A standardized smell test measures your threshold and identification ability objectively, which helps track recovery. A taste test may be done if taste itself seems affected. A sinus CT scan is used when sinus disease is suspected, and MRI may be arranged when a central cause needs to be excluded.

Treatment options

Conductive causes

Smell often improves when inflammation is controlled. Options include steroid sprays or rinses, a short course of oral steroids, allergy treatment and, when polyps or chronic sinusitis do not respond, endoscopic sinus surgery to reopen the airways.

Post-viral and sensorineural loss

• Olfactory training – sniffing a set of distinct scents, such as rose, lemon, eucalyptus and clove, twice daily for several months, which has evidence supporting recovery
• Treatment of any coexisting nasal inflammation
• Regular retesting to monitor progress

Recovery after viral loss can be slow, often over months, and is not always complete. Dr. Kim discusses expectations honestly.

Safety tips

Install smoke and gas detectors, label food with dates and ask others to check for odors while recovering.

When to see an ENT

See an ENT if your sense of smell has been reduced for more than two weeks without an obvious cold, or has not returned after one. Seek prompt assessment if smell loss occurs with one-sided blockage, nosebleeds, severe headache, vision changes or other neurological symptoms.

Seeing Dr. Kim in English

Dr. Kim Yoo Suk is a rhinologist and former university professor whose research includes symptom-based diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis. He explains smell test results in English. Our English-speaking ENT guide covers booking and records.

Frequently asked questions

Will my sense of smell come back after COVID or a cold?

Many people recover over weeks to months, but some take longer and a minority have lasting reduction. Olfactory training improves the chances of recovery. Testing helps measure progress and checks whether a treatable nasal problem is also contributing.

What is olfactory training?

Olfactory training means deliberately sniffing four distinct scents, such as rose, lemon, eucalyptus and clove, for about 20 seconds each, twice a day, over several months. It is thought to encourage regeneration and reorganization of the smell pathways after nerve damage.

Why does food taste bland when I lose my smell?

Taste buds detect only sweet, salty, sour, bitter and savory. The rich flavors of food come from aromas reaching the nose from the back of the mouth. When smell is lost, food seems bland even though true taste is intact.

This page is general medical information written and reviewed by an ENT specialist. It is not a diagnosis. Symptoms differ between people — please see a doctor for an examination. In an emergency in Korea, call 119.