Synapse - reconnecting lives

Following a brain injury many people report that their senses of taste and/or smell have been affected.

The two senses can both be affected in a number of different ways, and are both connected particularly when it comes to taste - the taste buds in our mouth only provide a basic sense of taste and it is our ability to smell that greatly broadens our sense of taste. 

In cases of traumatic brain injury, there may be damage to the nasal passages or the nerves in the nose and mouth, but it is quite common for the brain itself to be injured. The area of the brain responsible for these senses sits on top of bony protusions within the skull and they can be damaged during trauma to the head. 

There are no treatments available for loss of taste and smell, so this fact sheet will provide practical suggestions on ways to compensate for loss of taste and smell.

Disorders of taste & smell

Due to the complexity of the brain, our senses can be affected in many ways. Here are some of the terms used for disorders of smell:

• Anosmia: total loss of sense of smell
• Hyposmia: partial loss of sense of smell
• Hyperosmia: enhanced sensitivity to odours
• Phantosmia/parosmia: 'false' smells
• Dysosmia: distortion in odour perception. 

Here are some of the terms used for disorders of smell:

• Ageusia: total loss of sense of taste
• Dysgeusia: distortion or decrease in taste
• Parageusia: perceiving a bad taste in the mouth
• Dysgensia: persistent abnormal taste.

Practical ways to compensate for loss of taste

The smell of food stimulates the appetite, so loss of smell can lead to reduced appetite and lower production of saliva. Altered taste may make certain foods unpleasant but it should still be possible to have a healthy diet. There can be a tendency to focus on food with a lot of sugar, salt or fat to try and compensate for diminished taste but there are healthy ways to compensate: 

• Be imaginative and use varied colours and textures
• Under-cook vegetables so that they are crunchy and have texture
• Use seeds, nuts, wholegrain cereals and beans to add texture
• Add bacon bits or strong cheese such as parmesan to a meal
• Experiment with herbs, spices, vinegar and pickles for flavour
• Serve hot and cold foods together e.g. ice cream with hot sauce
• Make meals a social time with friends and family
• Use a cookbook and try new and interesting recipes. 

Consult your doctor, dietitian or speech therapist for further advice.

Health, safety & hygiene issues

Diminished smell can result in safety issues. Here are some safety tips:

• Fit a smoke alarms in your house
• Have electrical appliances regularly serviced
• Remove electric plugs when not in use
• Use an alarm to remind you of food cooking in the oven
• Have gas appliances regularly serviced and fit a gas detector
• Always eat or throw out food by its 'use by' date
• Keep products like bleach and solvents in their original containers
• Empty rubbish bins regularly and keep the toilet and kitchen clean
• Ensure you shower or bath daily and use a deodorant
• Wash your clothes and bed linen regularly
• Brush and floss your teeth every day
• Visit the dentist regularly
• Follow manufacturer's advice when using products such as paint, cleaning products and solvents.

Other possible causes for loss of taste or smell

It is worth consulting with a GP to find out whether there could be any medical reasons other than brain injury for changes to taste and smell. This is especially important if the symptoms haven't been noticed until some time after the injury.

Some medication can also affect the sense of taste. It is worth consulting the doctor to see whether the symptoms could be a side-effect of any medication being taken.

Compensation claims

If a compensation claim is being made, make sure that the effects on taste and smell are covered in the claim, as they could add several thousand dollars to the money awarded.