Olfactory Training: Recommendation Frequency Amongst Rhinologists

Despite the prevalence and health impact of olfactory dysfunction (OD), therapeutic options remain limited. One potential therapy is olfactory training (OT), where patients repeatedly sniff a small set of odors over several weeks with the goal of improving olfactory function. Although double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trials supporting the efficacy of OT are lacking, anecdotal evidence suggests that the procedure is widely recommended to patients with anosmia or other olfactory disorders. To better understand the adoption of OT in clinical practice, we recruited a convenience sample of 95 rhinologists and other otolaryngologists to complete an online survey that assessed how often, and under what conditions, they recommend OT to their patients with OD. Our survey revealed that the majority of responding otolaryngologists (93.7%) routinely recommend OT. Further, they recommend OT more often for quantitative than for qualitative disorders, and most frequently for post-viral and idiopathic OD etiologies. These findings support the perception that OT is commonly recommended in otolaryngological practice for the treatment of OD.