The press office of Sechenov Medical University reported that university scientists are studying the effectiveness of olfactory training in restoring the sense of smell in people suffering from post-COVID syndrome.
The statement from the office reads: "Smell training is a non-drug treatment for patients with impaired sense of smell. This method involves exposing patients to four smells for ten seconds each, several times a day. This method was developed by ENT doctors at the university. They use an automated software system and devices to display the smells. The system displays the smells in a specific order, and during the training, the patient performs several exercises, including identifying and distinguishing between the smells."
This method includes electroencephalography (EEG), which helps in the objective assessment of changes that occur in the brain during olfactory training.
Dr. Gaia Lebedeva, an ENT specialist, says: "When we test the patient and ask him if he smells something, this remains a subjective assessment of the effectiveness of the treatment. Different patterns can be identified on the electroencephalogram. For example, changes in the rhythms responsible for participating in the training process, in turn, affect the results of the treatment."
Dr. Valery Svistushkin, director of the university's Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic, notes that, according to survey data, most patients who experience a loss of smell after infection report a difference in their psychological and emotional state, including anxiety and depression.
He says: “Currently, there are no medications or surgical treatments for patients who suffer from loss of smell after contracting COVID-19. Smell training is considered the only way to restore this sense and a wide range of other senses. Preliminary data has shown the effectiveness of this training, which is being studied in our clinic. Patients’ sense of smell improved by the seventh session, at a much faster pace than the traditional method.”
