Smell and Taste Disorders
Smell and Taste Disorders Services
At Spokane ENT, we provide comprehensive evaluation of smell and taste disorders, conditions that can significantly impact quality of life, nutrition, and safety. Loss of smell (anosmia), reduced smell (hyposmia), distorted smell (parosmia), and altered taste (dysgeusia) can occur for many reasons, including viral infections (such as COVID-19), chronic sinusitis, nasal polyps, head trauma, medications, and neurologic conditions. Our team performs thorough evaluation to identify the cause of your symptoms and guide appropriate treatment or referral when indicated.
We utilize advanced diagnostic techniques to evaluate smell and taste disorders, including detailed history taking to understand the onset, pattern, and associated symptoms. Our evaluation includes comprehensive nasal examination using nasal endoscopy to visualize the nasal cavity, olfactory cleft, and sinus openings. We look for structural causes such as nasal polyps, inflammation, or obstruction that may block airflow to the olfactory region. When indicated, we may order CT imaging of the sinuses to assess for chronic sinusitis, polyps, or other anatomic factors. We work to differentiate nasal causes (obstructive or inflammatory) from neurologic causes (injury to the olfactory nerve or central pathways), which helps guide treatment and expectations for recovery.
Our treatment approach depends on the identified cause. For nasal and sinus causes such as chronic sinusitis or nasal polyps, medical management or sinus surgery (when appropriate) may improve smell by restoring airflow and reducing inflammation. For post-viral smell loss, recovery often occurs over weeks to months; olfactory training and treatment of any contributing nasal disease may help. When causes are neurologic or require further evaluation, we coordinate with neurologists or other specialists. Our goal is to identify the cause, offer treatment when available, and provide realistic expectations and support. For related conditions, see our Chronic Sinusitis and Sinus Symptoms and Chronic Sinusitis and Sinus Surgery (FESS) pages.
Smell and Taste Disorders Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Common causes include viral infections (such as COVID-19), chronic sinusitis, nasal polyps, head trauma, aging, and neurologic conditions. An ENT evaluation can help identify the cause.
See an ENT if you have sudden or gradual loss of smell or taste, changes that persist beyond a few weeks after a cold or infection, or symptoms that affect safety (e.g., inability to detect gas or smoke) or quality of life.
Evaluation includes a detailed history, nasal examination with endoscopy to look for obstruction or inflammation, and sometimes CT imaging. We identify whether the cause is nasal (obstruction, sinusitis, polyps) or neurologic.
Yes. Many people recover smell after viral infections over weeks to months. Olfactory training and treatment of any contributing nasal or sinus disease may help. We can evaluate and recommend next steps.
Most "taste" problems are actually smell problems. True taste (sweet, salty, sour, bitter) is mediated by the tongue. Flavor involves both taste and smell, so loss of smell often leads to reduced or altered perception of flavor.