What is anosmia?

Anosmia refers specifically to the loss or absence of the sense of smell. It can occur for various reasons, such as nasal obstructions, viral infections, head trauma, or neurological conditions. This condition can significantly affect a person's quality of life, as it plays a crucial role in flavor perception and can impact safety by limiting the ability to detect dangers such as smoke or gas. Understanding anosmia is important, especially in the context of conditions like COVID-19, where loss of smell has been a notable symptom.

The other terms relate to different senses: they involve conditions affecting vision, taste, and hearing, but do not pertain to the sense of smell, which is the defining feature of anosmia.