Anosmia versus Ageusia

Lemon’s infamous tart sourness coating every inch of our taste buds, perfumes decorating our clothes, the blinding sunlight making us squint, identifying the ridges, hills, and valleys as we glide our fingers across the deserts our own palms, and the recognition of notes and chords holding hands gathering to make a song. Our senses color our lives. They dip the tips of their brushes into their cans of nectar, beauty, and rhythm, and coat our lives with emotions, feelings, and sentiments. They stroke the strings of life; they are life itself. The five senses are inherent and essential to the human experience. But what happens when a person loses one of these senses?

Scientifically, there are five senses; some venture, and question whether there is a sixth. The real question, however, is, what is losing a sense and what does it entail? Losing sight and hearing is an idea society is more familiar with, but losing the ability to smell and taste is a possibility often glossed over. Anosmia is the name given to the loss of smell, whether partial or complete. This is often followed by ageusia, the loss of taste. This is because smell is correlated with the ability to taste and differentiate between different flavors.

Prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic, reported cases of anosmia and ageusia were scarce. This is because, although short-term causes like colds and the flu, are quite common, long-term causes are rare. Diagnosed long-term anosmia can be attributed to tumors, nasal polyps, a deviated septum, and nasal deformity. For both the long-term and short-term, the root of the problem is disruptions or blockages in the nasal passageway. Also in common, both long-term and short-term cases can be treated. In short-term cases, smell with return naturally, whereas in long-term cases surgery might be necessary. There are also exercises executed to train the sense of smell in an attempt to regain the ability.

The cause of ageusia is a disruption to the taste receptors. This can look like inflammation of the taste buds, damage of the nerves that are linked to tasting, or excessive use of medication. For both anosmia and ageusia, cases, where they are inherited, are incredibly rare but possible. In the situation where it is inherited, the cause would be a genetic disorder.

During the pandemic, there was a rise in anosmia and ageusia cases. With COVID-19, it’s common to eventually regain one’s sense of smell and taste as the other symptoms begin to gradually fade. However, there are cases where the taste and smell of the infected individual are affected in the long term.

As imagined, those who live with anosmia and/or ageusia feel alienated. Duncan Boack, an Olympic Gold Medalist, describes this “It’s so hard to explain but losing your sense of smell leaves you feeling like a spectator in your own life as if you’re watching from behind a pane of glass.”  He puts anosmia into perspective when he explains the emotional connection between the smell of our loved ones and the emotions tied to them. He said, “Just imagine it was taken away and you were told you would never ever get that emotional connection to that person in that way again.”

Food also plays an essential role in cultures, creating a disconnect between an individual with anosmia and/or ageusia and their cultural identity. Not only does this affect individuals mentally, but there are also physical dangers. Without the ability to smell, the danger of allowing something to burn and develop into a fire becomes something more relevant and possible. People with ageusia struggle with knowing whether or not food has expired or if it is cooked all the way.

Living without one’s senses is an incredibly difficult experience, however, it doesn’t mean life can’t be enjoyed. It’s a well-known fact that when one loses a sense, another sense becomes heightened. The loss of one sense can be the catalyst for the exploration of the other senses. This creates opportunities to hone existing skills or begin new creative endeavors.

To claim that people generally takes advantage of their senses is an understatement. The fragility of our senses is invisible to many. We may feel invincible and like our senses cannot be taken from us. However, it is important that we recognize the role they play, and appreciate, and enjoy them. As a human, it is our duty to feel and experience, and our senses are the steps on the ladder to achieve this. When life knocks down a paint can remember that one can make one’s own colors.