- Specialized care for smell disorders and advanced treatments for the conditions that cause them. Go to Conditions Treated
- Innovative nonsurgical and surgical treatment options, including the latest minimally invasive procedures that involve less recovery time. Go to Treatments
- Experienced clinical team that delivers personalized care and effective treatments using a multispecialty approach. Go to Your Care Team
- Clinical trials to provide early access to promising therapies available only at Stanford Medicine, such as a completed trial using platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections to treat loss of smell following a COVID-19 infection. Go to Clinical Trials
- Emotional support, resources, and guidance for people experiencing smell and taste disorders. Go to Supportive Services
- Ease of access to the services you need and a strong focus on convenient, accessible care. Go to Connecting to Care
Conditions Treated
At Stanford Health Care, our smell disorder specialist uses advanced diagnostics and unmatched expertise to determine what’s affecting your sense of smell. Numerous medical conditions, diseases, and other factors can lead to smell and taste disorders. These include COVID-19, long COVID, inflammation from chronic sinusitis, growths in the nose or brain, and certain genetic disorders. Loss of smell can also be an early sign of some neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Our experienced team works with experts across Stanford Health Care to deliver an accurate diagnosis and comprehensive care. We’re skilled at identifying the cause of the disorder so we can make treatments more precise. You’ll have a multispecialty care team dedicated to your well-being. We specialize in:
Smell disorders
Smell disorders can appear gradually or develop suddenly. They can be temporary or permanent. Our team uses a comprehensive approach to treat:
- Anosmia: Total loss of smell
- Hyposmia: Partial loss of smell
- Parosmia: Scents smell different or distorted
- Phantosmia: Smelling odors that aren’t actually there
Taste disorders
Your senses of smell and taste are closely related. Smell plays a vital role in how you experience the flavor of food and drinks. Our team specializes in helping people with taste disorders that result from an impaired sense of smell. These include:
- Ageusia: Complete loss of taste
- Hypogeusia: Decreased sense of taste or the inability to distinguish between flavors
- Dysgeusia: Distorted sense of taste that often makes foods taste rotten or metallic
"Our specialists use a comprehensive approach to determine the cause of smell disorders so we can make treatments more effective."
As leaders in advanced ENT care, our specialists offer customized treatments that aren’t available elsewhere. Through our commitment to research and innovation, our team is at the forefront of groundbreaking treatments for loss of smell. We deliver the highest-quality care and personalized treatments while focusing on you as a whole person.
We work closely with other Stanford Health Care specialists as needed to ensure you receive the most comprehensive care. If you need treatment for a condition that’s causing a smell disorder, you’ll have the expertise of Stanford Health Care behind you. If your doctor recommends surgery, our team is skilled at minimally invasive techniques using the latest technology.
Your individualized treatment plan may include:
For this therapy, you smell different scents at scheduled times throughout the day. Over several months, OT helps to stimulate the regenerative process within your olfactory system. The process creates new pathways between olfactory nerves (those related to the sense of smell) and the brain to replace lost or damaged nerve connections. This exercises your olfactory system and can help improve smell loss from multiple different causes.
At Stanford Health Care, our team pioneered a treatment that combines OT with steroid nasal rinses. These rinses improved outcomes for people undergoing OT.
Your care team may recommend surgery to remove a tumor or nasal polyps, or to address chronic sinusitis or other sources of inflammation that cause smell abnormalities. We are skilled at many nasal surgery techniques, including the latest minimally invasive options. Our team performs endoscopic sinus surgery and endoscopic endonasal tumor removal using a thin, flexible tube inserted through the nose. There’s no need for incisions, which means less recovery time and a lower risk of complications.
Your wellness plays a role in the success of your treatment. Many people find it challenging to live with a smell or taste disorder. You may feel sad, alone, or frustrated. That’s why we offer a range of support services to assist you throughout your journey and improve your quality of life.
Innovation Through Clinical Research
As a leading academic and research institution, we are always striving to find new techniques and apply the latest and best technology to your treatment. Specialists at Stanford Health Care ENT work with each other and with teams across the nation to spark groundbreaking research. We are committed to bringing you clinical trials that test new and better ways to diagnose, treat, and manage ENT conditions. Participating in a trial may give you access to the latest ENT therapies before they are widely available.
A smell disorder can disrupt your life. We are here to guide you through every challenge using our Circle of Care approach. You have a team supporting you and placing your needs at the center of every decision. Our multispecialty team works together to tailor treatments to your needs. Depending on the condition, you will be cared for by our rhinologists (nose, sinus, and skull base doctors) and advanced practice providers. Together, we prioritize your overall health and give you renewed hope for a better quality of life.
Our health care providers work together to advance our approach to diagnosing and treating smell and taste disorders. Our team meets regularly to review cases that require more complex recommendations. We are committed to giving you the best care experience and results possible.
Your Doctors
Smell Disorder Specialist
This specialist is an otolaryngologist (ENT) and rhinologist (nose, sinus, and skull base expert). Smell disorder specialists have extensive experience treating patients with smell disorders. Depending on the underlying cause of the smell disorder, these specialists collaborate with other physicians and surgeons. They also work with experts from other fields, including electrical engineers and computer data scientists, to search for more effective treatments for smell loss.
View All {0} Smelling Disorders Specialists »Rhinologist
A rhinologist is a type of otolaryngologist (ENT) who has unique expertise in the medical and surgical treatment of nasal, sinus, and skull base disorders.
View All {0} Rhinologists »Advanced Practice Provider
Our skilled nurse practitioners and physician assistants (PAs) specialize in diagnosing and treating smell and taste disorders. These providers, called advanced practice providers (APPs), see patients independently and occasionally alongside your doctor. APPs can give you a thorough exam, write prescriptions, and help prevent or treat any issues. Our APPs meet weekly to discuss patient needs.
View All {0} Advanced Practice Provider Doctors »Extended Care Team
Neurosurgeon
Rhinologists may sometimes work with neurosurgeons to perform endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery. They use this procedure to remove a skull base tumor located between your brain and sinuses, which could be affecting your smell.
Neurologist
Smell disorder specialists often work with neurologists to provide comprehensive care to patients who have smell disorders resulting from neurologic issues. These include Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, and others.
Nurses and Nurse Coordinators (RNs)
Nurses and nurse coordinators are registered nurses who coordinate your care with your care team. They guide you from your first contact through follow-up care and help you find counseling, financial, and other support services.
Care Coordinators
Care coordinators provide you with information and assistance before and during your appointment.
- Medical Assistants: Medical assistants work with our team to help provide care. They may prepare you for an examination, assist your doctor, or take your vital signs before your appointment.
- Patient Care Coordinators: Our patient care coordinators help you with scheduling appointments and accessing your lab results. They are your first line of contact before you see your provider and will guide you during your care plan.
- Patient Access Representatives: Patient access representatives can answer your questions about health insurance coverage, help you apply for health insurance, and refer you to our financial counselors.
Research Coordinators
Doctors at Stanford Health Care Ear, Nose, and Throat participate in research efforts to advance the understanding of smell disorders and their treatment. Research coordinators help screen candidates for possible participation in clinical research trials.
Support Services
Part of your care involves managing your emotional and spiritual health. We offer support services for you and your loved ones that can help you stay strong throughout your treatment and recovery.
We strive to make access to care as simple as possible. We have a network of convenient locations across the Bay Area and a wide range of support services. User-friendly virtual health tools and video appointments help you stay connected with your care team from home. We accept most insurance plans and offer discounted transportation, short-stay options, and international travel and translation services. We make it easy for you to get the care you deserve. Our team guides you through each step, so you can make decisions that are right for you.
We aim to make smell disorder care accessible and convenient at Stanford Health Care. Our scheduling staff can coordinate your appointments if needed, so that you can see multiple providers during a single trip.
For Referring Physicians
PHYSICIAN HELPLINE
Fax: 650-320-9443
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Stanford Health Care provides comprehensive services to refer and track patients, as well as the latest information and news for physicians and office staff. For help with all referral needs and questions, visit Referral Information.
You may also submit a web referral or complete a referral form and fax it to 650-320-9443 or email the Referral Center at ReferralCenter@stanfordhealthcare.org.
