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Ear, Nose and Throat # What Can Cause a Loss of Taste and Smell? Originally published June 12, 2020 Last updated June 28, 2025 Reading Time: 3 minutes add remove [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.keckmedicine.org/blog/what-can-cause-a-loss-of-taste-and-smell/&display=popup&ref=plugin&src=share_button "Share on Facebook") [Post](https://twitter.com/share?url=https://www.keckmedicine.org/blog/what-can-cause-a-loss-of-taste-and-smell/&text=What%20Can%20Cause%20a%20Loss%20of%20Taste%20and%20Smell%3F "Share on Twitter or X") [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.keckmedicine.org/blog/what-can-cause-a-loss-of-taste-and-smell/ "Share on LinkedIn") mail\_outline print Search more articles News & Magazine [Newsroom](https://news.keckmedicine.org/) [Health System Insights](https://www.keckmedicine.org/health-system-insights/) [Health Science Campus](https://hscnews.usc.edu/) [USC Health Magazine](https://www.keckmedicine.org/magazine/) Topics [Allergies and Asthma](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/allergies-and-asthma) [Ask the Experts](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/ask-the-experts) [Bone and Joint Health](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/bone-and-joint-health) [Brain Health](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/brain-health) [Brain Tumors](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/brain-tumors) [Breaking Myths and Misconceptions](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/breaking-myths-and-misconceptions) [Breast Cancer](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/breast-cancer) [Breast Health](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/breast-health) [Business of Health Care](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/business-of-health-care) [Cancer](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/cancer) [Colon Cancer](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/colon-cancer) [COVID-19](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/covid-19) [Diabetes](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/diabetes) [Digestive Health](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/digestive-health) [Ear, Nose and Throat](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/ear-nose-and-throat) [Everyday Health](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/everyday-health) [Eye Care](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/eye-care) [Food and Nutrition](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/food-and-nutrition) [From Our Experts](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/from-our-experts) [Gender-Affirming Care](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/gender-affirming-care) [General](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/general) [Headache](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/headache) [Hearing](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/hearing) [Heart Health](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/heart-health) [Incontinence](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/incontinence) [Keck Hospital of USC](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/keck-hospital-of-usc) [Kidney Stones](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/kidney-stones) [Lung Cancer](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/lung-cancer) [Meet Our Team](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/meet-our-team) [Men's Health](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/mens-health) [Organ Transplant and Donation](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/organ-transplant-and-donation) [Orthopedics](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/orthopedics) [Pain](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/pain) [Primary Care](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/primary-care) [Skin Cancer](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/skin-cancer) [Skin Health](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/healthy-skin) [Sleep](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/sleep) [Spine Health](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/spine-health) [Sports and Fitness](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/sports-and-fitness) [Surgery](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/surgery) [Urology](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/urology) [USC Arcadia Hospital](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/usc-arcadia-hospital) [USC Norris Cancer Hospital](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/usc-norris-cancer-hospital) [USC Verdugo Hills Hospital](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/usc-verdugo-hills-hospital) [Voice and Speech](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/voice-and-speech) [Weight Management](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/weight-management) [Women's Health](https://www.keckmedicine.org/category/womens-health) See All Topics expand\_more See Fewer Topics expand\_less  ## Several viruses and health conditions, including COVID-19, could be the reason for your loss of taste and smell. A bouquet of flowers. A home-cooked meal. Milk that’s past its best-by date. Our senses of taste and smell help us to detect and catalog a wide spectrum of flavors and scents. Both can also serve to tell us when something’s not safe to eat. And, interestingly, what we perceive as a disruption in our [ability to taste](https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/taste-disorders) may often be rooted in issues related to our [sense of smell](https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/smell-disorders). Here [Kevin Hur, MD,](https://www.keckmedicine.org/provider/Kevin-Hur/) a rhinology specialist with the [USC Caruso Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery](https://www.keckmedicine.org/services/ear-nose-and-throat-care/), part of [Keck Medicine of USC](https://www.keckmedicine.org/), outlines 4 common reasons that may cause you to lose your sense of taste or smell. ### **1\. Viral infections, like the flu, colds and COVID-19** If you’ve had a [cold,](https://www.keckmedicine.org/blog/common-questions-about-the-common-cold/) you may be all too familiar with a stuffy nose that makes it hard to smell. In fact, both the common cold and [influenza](https://www.keckmedicine.org/blog/how-long-does-the-flu-last-and-other-flu-faqs/) can cause temporary anosmia, or a complete inability to detect odors. Scientists have also identified a loss of taste and smell among the symptoms associated with [COVID-19](https://www.cdc.gov/covid/signs-symptoms/index.html). “Viruses can damage the cells that detect odors and cause swelling in your nose, which limits airflow to smell receptors,” says Dr. Hur. When smell is lost, often taste is, too. When you chew food, the released aromas reach your nose and activate your sense of smell. If your nose is stuffed or blocked by a cold or the flu, the odors can’t reach the sensory cells in your nose, and you lose much of the enjoyment of flavor. Foods taste bland and lose nuance. ### **2\. Neurological conditions** ”Some neurodegenerative conditions that affect the nervous system, such as [Alzheimer’s disease,](https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-disease-fact-sheet#symptoms) Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis (MS), may affect areas of the brain responsible for processing odors that affect a patient’s smell and taste,” says Dr Hur. It’s important to note that just because you’re experiencing a loss of smell, it doesn’t mean you will develop [Parkinson’s](https://www.parkinson.org/understanding-parkinsons/symptoms/non-movement-symptoms/loss-of-smell). But reduced sense of smell, or hyposmia, is often an early sign of the disease. ### **3\. Nasal polyps** If you’re prone to frequent sinus infections, you may develop [nasal polyps](https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001641.htm), or benign growths in the nose that may affect smell, due to inflammation of the lining of the nose that can prevent odors from reaching smell nerves. “Nasal polyps eventually can grow to a size that prevents airflow to the cells that detect odors,” Dr. Hur says. Treatment may include topical [medications,](https://www.aaaai.org/Tools-for-the-Public/Conditions-Library/Allergies/Nasal-Polyps) such as steroid sprays and nasal saline rinses, that shrink the [polyps](https://www.keckmedicine.org/blog/how-to-tell-if-you-have-nasal-polyps/). In some cases, surgery also may be performed. Once inflammation is under control, a full sense of smell may return. ### **4\. Age** According to the National Institutes of Health, up to [1 in 4](https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/quick-statistics-taste-smell) Americans over the age of 40 may experience changes in their sense of smell; that number increases to nearly 1 in 3 for people over the age of 80. When it comes to taste, 1 in 5 Americans may experience changes after they turn 40. As we age, [several factors](https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/smell-and-taste#loss-smell) can contribute to a loss of taste and smell, including dental issues, dry mouth, certain medications, alcohol consumption and smoking. In addition, less [mucus](https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/004013.htm) production in the nose, a loss of nerve endings and changes in the taste buds can occur as we age, affecting smell and taste. If you’re experiencing a loss of taste and smell, talking to your primary care physician or visiting an otolaryngologist, a doctor who specializes in the conditions of the ear, nose and throat, may help you pinpoint what’s causing these changes in your senses. ## Connect With Our Team Get personalized ear, nose and throat care from our USC Caruso Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery specialists. Our team treats a range of conditions, including allergies, sinus and nasal disorders, sleep apnea and more. [Learn more](https://www.keckmedicine.org/services/ear-nose-and-throat-care/) Topics [age-related conditions](https://www.keckmedicine.org/search/?q=age-related%20conditions&contentTypes=blog) [COVID-19](https://www.keckmedicine.org/search/?q=COVID-19&contentTypes=blog) [Dr. Kevin Hur](https://www.keckmedicine.org/search/?q=Dr.%20Kevin%20Hur&contentTypes=blog) [Keck Hospital of USC](https://www.keckmedicine.org/search/?q=Keck%20Hospital%20of%20USC&contentTypes=blog) [loss of taste and smell](https://www.keckmedicine.org/search/?q=loss%20of%20taste%20and%20smell&contentTypes=blog) [nasal polyps](https://www.keckmedicine.org/search/?q=nasal%20polyps&contentTypes=blog) [neurological conditions](https://www.keckmedicine.org/search/?q=neurological%20conditions&contentTypes=blog) [USC Arcadia Hospital](https://www.keckmedicine.org/search/?q=USC%20Arcadia%20Hospital&contentTypes=blog) [USC Norris Cancer Hospital](https://www.keckmedicine.org/search/?q=USC%20Norris%20Cancer%20Hospital&contentTypes=blog) [USC Verdugo Hills Hospital](https://www.keckmedicine.org/search/?q=USC%20Verdugo%20Hills%20Hospital&contentTypes=blog) Tina Donvito Tina Donvito is a freelance writer covering health, culture, travel and parenting. 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 ## Several viruses and health conditions, including COVID-19, could be the reason for your loss of taste and smell. A bouquet of flowers. A home-cooked meal. Milk that’s past its best-by date. Our senses of taste and smell help us to detect and catalog a wide spectrum of flavors and scents. Both can also serve to tell us when something’s not safe to eat. And, interestingly, what we perceive as a disruption in our [ability to taste](https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/taste-disorders) may often be rooted in issues related to our [sense of smell](https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/smell-disorders). Here [Kevin Hur, MD,](https://www.keckmedicine.org/provider/Kevin-Hur/) a rhinology specialist with the [USC Caruso Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery](https://www.keckmedicine.org/services/ear-nose-and-throat-care/), part of [Keck Medicine of USC](https://www.keckmedicine.org/), outlines 4 common reasons that may cause you to lose your sense of taste or smell. ### **1\. Viral infections, like the flu, colds and COVID-19** If you’ve had a [cold,](https://www.keckmedicine.org/blog/common-questions-about-the-common-cold/) you may be all too familiar with a stuffy nose that makes it hard to smell. In fact, both the common cold and [influenza](https://www.keckmedicine.org/blog/how-long-does-the-flu-last-and-other-flu-faqs/) can cause temporary anosmia, or a complete inability to detect odors. Scientists have also identified a loss of taste and smell among the symptoms associated with [COVID-19](https://www.cdc.gov/covid/signs-symptoms/index.html). “Viruses can damage the cells that detect odors and cause swelling in your nose, which limits airflow to smell receptors,” says Dr. Hur. When smell is lost, often taste is, too. When you chew food, the released aromas reach your nose and activate your sense of smell. If your nose is stuffed or blocked by a cold or the flu, the odors can’t reach the sensory cells in your nose, and you lose much of the enjoyment of flavor. Foods taste bland and lose nuance. ### **2\. Neurological conditions** ”Some neurodegenerative conditions that affect the nervous system, such as [Alzheimer’s disease,](https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-disease-fact-sheet#symptoms) Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis (MS), may affect areas of the brain responsible for processing odors that affect a patient’s smell and taste,” says Dr Hur. It’s important to note that just because you’re experiencing a loss of smell, it doesn’t mean you will develop [Parkinson’s](https://www.parkinson.org/understanding-parkinsons/symptoms/non-movement-symptoms/loss-of-smell). But reduced sense of smell, or hyposmia, is often an early sign of the disease. ### **3\. Nasal polyps** If you’re prone to frequent sinus infections, you may develop [nasal polyps](https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001641.htm), or benign growths in the nose that may affect smell, due to inflammation of the lining of the nose that can prevent odors from reaching smell nerves. “Nasal polyps eventually can grow to a size that prevents airflow to the cells that detect odors,” Dr. Hur says. Treatment may include topical [medications,](https://www.aaaai.org/Tools-for-the-Public/Conditions-Library/Allergies/Nasal-Polyps) such as steroid sprays and nasal saline rinses, that shrink the [polyps](https://www.keckmedicine.org/blog/how-to-tell-if-you-have-nasal-polyps/). In some cases, surgery also may be performed. Once inflammation is under control, a full sense of smell may return. ### **4\. Age** According to the National Institutes of Health, up to [1 in 4](https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/quick-statistics-taste-smell) Americans over the age of 40 may experience changes in their sense of smell; that number increases to nearly 1 in 3 for people over the age of 80. When it comes to taste, 1 in 5 Americans may experience changes after they turn 40. As we age, [several factors](https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/smell-and-taste#loss-smell) can contribute to a loss of taste and smell, including dental issues, dry mouth, certain medications, alcohol consumption and smoking. In addition, less [mucus](https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/004013.htm) production in the nose, a loss of nerve endings and changes in the taste buds can occur as we age, affecting smell and taste. If you’re experiencing a loss of taste and smell, talking to your primary care physician or visiting an otolaryngologist, a doctor who specializes in the conditions of the ear, nose and throat, may help you pinpoint what’s causing these changes in your senses. Topics Tina Donvito is a freelance writer covering health, culture, travel and parenting.