How to properly train your sense of smell after COVID-19

Smell training is mostly ineffective, but in some patients it leads to significant recovery of the sense of smell, according to scientists from Washington University in St. Louis. The study is published in JAMA Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery.

The randomized study enrolled 275 patients with decreased sense of smell after COVID. Participants were given four essential oils to sniff for 15 seconds, 30 seconds apart. Some patients were given only to smell the oils, while others were also shown an image of the corresponding object - a rose, a spruce, a lemon, and so on. The scientists called the latter approach bimodal. A control group without olfactory training was used for comparison.

The mean change in olfactory function before and after the intervention was 11.6 points, which was not considered clinically important.

However, the highest percentage of participants who experienced an improvement in olfactory function was in the bimodal training group. Clinically significant improvement (much better or slightly better) was reported by 19% of participants in the control group and 46% of participants who received bimodal training. The study showed the need for further investigation of bimodal training.

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