Blog

The five senses are taken for granted until we lose them. Anosmia, or the loss of sense of smell is a rare and devastating complication of concussions which are common in a car accident. Certain parts of the brain control these senses, and damage to these regions can cause either temporary or permanent loss of said sense.

Are you looking for a loss of smell after a concussion attorney? Please contact us TODAY at 1 (773) 825-3547 to learn more about your legal options for compensation. For over 70 years, we’ve helped thousands of injured individuals get the justice and compensation they need around the country with as little hassle and time as possible. When the insurance company promises you a substantial payout, talk to us instead at 1 (773) 825-3547 to learn how we can get you the maximum allowable compensation that will take care of your financial needs for years to come. The call is free, and there’s no obligation to have us take on your case.

Concussions and Loss of Smell After a Car Accident

Traumatic brain injury is often seen after catastrophic accidents or slips and falls, and even in sports injuries where a person takes a blow to the head. The human brain is a sensitive organ which needs protection at all times; however, even the impact of a car accident might render your seat belt ineffective when it comes to the forces associated with hundreds of pounds of metal crashing into another vehicle at high speeds.

Anosmia, the loss of sense of smell usually arises out of a TBI or concussion, and it can be due to olfactory nerve injury which is responsible for sending information about scents to the forebrain which houses the olfactory bulb so it can decode the smell and let you know what it is exactly that scent is. Olfactory nerve trauma is more often than not due to ethmoid bone fracture, a structure which demarcates the eye socket floor and the nasal cavity roof. In a car accident, your face can strike the dashboard or, if you’re the driver, the wheel, leading to the breaking of this very fragile bone.

Anosmia Complications

Losing one’s sense of smell doesn’t seem inconsequential until you realize that we store memories, especially emotional ones, together with certain smells and scents, as well as need smell to know what food tastes like. In addition, those in certain professions such as chefs as well as factory workers need this sense in order to keep them out of danger or produce great work.

Diagnosing Loss of Smell

When it comes to diagnosing anosmia, doctors will carry out an MRI and olfactory test to determine the degree to which your olfactory nerve has been damaged. The Smell Identification Test uses a list of 40 items that one can scratch and sniff off in order to see if the injured individual can identify key smells or odors. At the end, you will receive an impairment rating running from1 to 5, with 1 being normosmia, and 5 being anosmia.

How Loss of Smell After a TBI Can Impact Your Life

Individuals with anosmia may face significant health risks such as the need to add excessive amounts of salt or sugar to their food, losing weight due to lacking interest in eating since they cannot taste it, or the opposite where they eat so much since they cannot taste food, leading to satiety issues. In addition, they may experience depression, withdraw from hobbies, experience personality changes and have a hard time connecting to people.

Loss of Smell Due to Head Injury Attorneys – Call Today!

Anosmia caused by head injury or concussion should not be something you have to live with and seek treatment for if someone else’s negligence caused your injuries. If you were hurt in a car accident, slip and fall, sporting event, at work and developed loss of smell or taste, call us at 1 (773) 825-3547 to speak with our best concussion lawyers to learn more about your legal options for compensation. Thanks, and we look forward to hearing from you.