Experiences of living without a sense of smell: Like “Being Behind Glass” (original) (raw)
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The Senses and Society A Whiff of Nothing: The Atmospheric Absence of Smell
This article uses the figure of “presence of absence” to consider the phenomenological significance of dimensions of smell that easily slip out of apprehension. The discussion highlights how not only loud smell but also absence of smell manages to exert an influence over the way people feel. Smells linked to emotions and bodily sensations are addressed as atmospheric, and facets of an atmospheric absence of smell are unfurled within the framework of “the smell of the hospital.” The case demonstrates how the atmospheric presence of absence of smell becomes of significance in the hospital as it is acted and reacted upon as a sense of (1) longing, (2) avoidance, (3) care and (4) cleanliness.
The Impact of Olfactory Disorders in the United Kingdom
Chemical Senses, 2014
Olfactory disorders are believed to affect 5% of the general population and have been shown to bear significant psychosocial consequences to sufferers. Although more common than blindness and profound deafness in the United Kingdom, the impact of these disorders has not been assessed to date and the plight of British patients has yet to be quantified. In 2012, a patient support organization, Fifth Sense, was founded to provide information and support to sufferers of chemosensory disorders. Following a recent members conference, a survey of the membership was conducted anonymously using a series of questions based on an existing olfactory disorders questionnaire. From 496 respondents, this has demonstrated high rates of depression (43%) and anxiety (45%), impairment of eating experience (92%), isolation (57%), and relationship difficulties (54%). Women appear to have significantly more issues than men in terms of social and domestic dysfunction relating to olfactory loss (P = 0.01). Qualitative disorders also affected more than 1 in 5 members with parosmia reported in 19% and phantosmia in 24%. This paper discusses the details of the British story of anosmia and other related disorders as depicted by those most affected.
An unmet need: Patients with smell and taste disorders
Clinical Otolaryngology, 2019
Objectives There are large numbers of patients with olfactory disturbance in the UK and shortfalls in assessment and support amongst mainstream practice in both primary and secondary care leading to significant quality of life impairment and potential missed diagnoses. The aim of this study was to determine the key themes which can be identified from the accounts of anosmia sufferers and to identify important areas to target for future research or service development. Design Qualitative analysis of written patient accounts from patients corresponding with a tertiary smell and taste clinic in the UK. This qualitative study utilised unstructured written patient accounts from consenting patients experiencing olfactory disturbances received by the Smell and Taste clinic. Framework analysis was performed using Nvivo 10 software. Setting Tertiary Smell and Taste Clinic Participants Consenting patients who contacted the Smell and Taste Clinic with accounts of their experiences. Main Outcome Measures Themes generated by qualitative analysis with Nvivo software. Results Accounts submitted by 71 participants were included in the analysis; age range 31-80 years, 45 females, 26 males. Themes identified include negative emotional impact, feelings of isolation,
Qualitative Olfactory Disorders: Patient experiences and self-management
2020
Background Qualitative olfactory disorders in the form of parosmia and phantosmia are very subjective and cannot be measured at present. They pose an unpleasant experience for patients and a therapeutic challenge for clinicians. Objective This study aimed to characterise the specific experiences of patients affected by the qualitative symptoms of parosmia and phantosmia including both triggers for symptoms and self-help measures they have tried. Methods A cross-sectional survey questionnaire was developed with the input of patient experts within the charity Fifth Sense. The survey was then open online for 3 months to charity members complaining of qualitative symptoms. The survey captured the frequency and impact of symptoms and self-management undertaken. Reflective feedback was also captured from a patient workshop. Results There were 100 participants; 61% female, age range 13-88. Common self-reported aetiology included sinonasal disease (17%), idiopathic (33%) and post-viral olfactory loss (26%) and post-traumatic olfactory loss (23%). Parosmia was reported as a daily symptom in 67% compared to 31% for phantosmia; 36% complained of suffering with both symptoms. Only 4% of respondents reported having received any successful treatment for their qualitative symptoms and 58% reported having received no treatment whatsoever. Olfactory training was the most common self-management method reported. Conclusion This study illustrates that qualitative disturbances remain problematic for those who experience them due to the duration of symptoms, the relative lack of experience or knowledge amongst medical professionals and the lack of therapeutic options. In future, consideration needs to be given to adaptation and coping strategies to help patients deal with these symptoms.
entanglements experiments in multimodal ethnography 5(1/2): 189-193, 2022
Spanish version available here: https://entanglementsjournal.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/27.-epilogo.pdf Recommended citation: Sergidou, K., Gómez Mendoza, N., Galan Silvo, I., Fernandez-Centeno, I., del Pino Molina, M. and Bullen, M. (2022). ‘Epilogue: Ethnographies without a nose’, entanglements, 5(1/2): 189-193 Abstract Having explored how attention to our sense of smell enhances our ethnographies, we conclude this collection by considering what we lose when we overlook, ignore or leave out the senses in general, and smell in particular in our anthropological fieldwork. As this was made especially acute during the Coronavirus pandemic commencing in 2020 when some lost their sense of smell and others were prevented by lockdown from exercising this sense outside of their own homes, here we bring together our experiences of the absence or erasure of smells caused by COVID, face coverings and the cancellation of social activities. Ultimately, we ask how to perfume an odourless life, translating some senses through others, describing smell with words or pictures, how to paint or write smell.
Learning about the Functions of the Olfactory System from People without a Sense of Smell
PLoS ONE, 2012
The olfactory system provides numerous functions to humans, influencing ingestive behavior, awareness of environmental hazards and social communication. Approximately N!\ of the general population exhibit an impaired sense of smell. However, in contrast to the many affected, only few patients complain of their impairment. So how important is it for humans to have an intact sense of smell? Or is it even dispensable, at least in the Western world? To investigate this, we compared 32 patients, who were born without a sense of smell (isolated congenital anosmia -ICA) with 36 age-matched controls. A broad questionnaire was used, containing domains relevant to olfaction in daily life, along with a questionnaire about social relationships and the BDI-questionnaire. ICA-patients differed only slightly from controls in functions of daily life related to olfaction. These differences included enhanced social insecurity, increased risk for depressive symptoms and increased risk for household accidents. In these domains the sense of olfaction seems to play a key role. Citation: Croy I, Negoias S, Novakova L, Landis BN, Hummel T (2012) Learning about the Functions of the Olfactory System from People without a Sense of Smell. PLoS ONE 7(3): e33365.
Currently experiencing social shift from the rural/coastal to the urban, Matnog, Sorsogon, in the Philippines is left with markings of people who live by the coast, who are confronted by poverty, a poverty which can easily be seen in the space they occupy. The present article concerns itself less with seeing, but rather forms a spin-off from the spatial discourse to that of the smell/scent of a woman enmeshed with the space she inhabits and enabling the unfolding of the reproduction of social differences. As a way of knowing, a methodology, in this embodied qualitative research, the scent/smell becomes the agent and the space as the agency of power are both explored as a purview in cultural studies. The sense of smell as a socio-cultural construction that establishes social identity and reifies and reproduces social differences is highlighted and positioned. Extrapolating from field work conducted in Matnog demonstrates that the smell of this rural space is rapidly transitioning to ...
Sense of smell disorder and health-related quality of life
Rehabilitation Psychology, 2009
To compare health-related quality of life and depression between individuals with an inability to smell (anosmia) and a comparison group of individuals with a normal sense of smell. Methods: Ninety individuals from an anosmia organization (anosmia based on self-report) were compared to 89 individuals with a normal sense of smell. The SF-36 and Beck Depression Inventory-II-NL (BDI-II-NL) were administered, along with the Questionnaire for Olfactory Dysfunction (QOD) to assess the degree of problems in daily life related to the smell impairment. Results: Compared to the comparison group, scores in the anosmia group differed on: the QOD-subscale Life Quality (related to tasting and smelling: p Ͻ .001) and Parosmia (Smelling odors as different: p Ͻ .001); and the SF-36 subscales of Social Functioning, Vitality, Mental Health and General Health (p's Ͻ .05). Persons with anosmia scored higher on the BDI-II-NL than persons from the comparison group (p Ͻ .01). Discussion: Once a smell dysfunction is recognized, interventions aiming at dealing with the loss of smell as a source of information and enjoyment, as well as at improvement of emotional wellbeing, social interaction, energy, and depression should be considered.
Smell, Odor, and Somatic Work: Sense-Making and Sensory Management
. To sense, in other words, is to make sense, and sense making entails what we call "somatic work. " We investigate these dynamics in the context of olfaction, highlighting how olfaction intersects with social, cultural, and moral order-thus compelling reflexive forms of somatic work by which people manage smell (as an act) and odor (as a sign). Our data are drawn from a convenience sample of twenty-three participants who reflected on their olfactory experiences through the use of research journals. We focus on three central dynamics: participants' attribution of meaning to odors, the somatic rules that structure perception, and olfactory facework. The participants in this study attribute meaning to odor through odiferous indexes that intersect with an individual's somatic career; olfactory somatic rules entail disciplined somatic work in relation to the intensity of odor, its context, and moral/aesthetic character. Because odor conveys meaning, it is part of the ritualized facework of everyday life. Odor is a subtle but significant component of the culturally normative and aesthetic rituals of expressive and impressive everyday life.
Health Care for Women International, 2011
Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to illuminate how individuals living with SHR, experience its impact on accessibility, financial security and social relationships. Method: A qualitative approach was used. The participants were recruited by advertising on the website for "The network for people with odor intolerance". The data was collected by written descritive texts from the participants and analysed with qualitative content analysis. Results: The results showed that the informants experienced an extensive lack of accessibility in society. It was difficult to move around in society, to visit public buildings and facilities and it was almost impossible to find a suitable place to live. Regarding financial security they had a reduced income due to difficulties to earn their living in combination with increased expenses because of the disease and they had difficulties to get the support they needed from authorities. This created an insecure financial situation. Further, the findings showed that their social relationships had been affected. Socializing with others had become hard and troublesome, they had become limited in doing social activities and they got support from some but these persons became limited. Six themes permeated the categories in all three content areas: "Being limited", "Being forced to behave incompatible with your true personality", "Experiencing a lack of understanding and respect from others", "Experiencing insecurity", "Being dependent on others" and "Being forced to choose between the plague and cholera".