[Classification and definition of smell and taste disorders]

Abstract

The smell and taste disorders are defined in terms due to two principles - the type and site of lesion. The quantitative dysosmias (anosmia, hyposmia, hyperosmia) correspond to the quantitative dysgeusias (ageusia, hypogeusia, hypergeusia) and the qualitative dysosmias (parosmia, pseudo-osmia, phantosmia, agnosmia) correspond to the qualitative dysgeusias (parageusia, pseudogeusia, phantogeusia, agnogeusia). Due to the site of lesion we can differentiate between respiratory, epithelial, combined, neural, and central dysosmias as well as epithelial, neural, and central dysgeusias. Typical examples are demonstrated, denying other classifications and terms as not precisely enough or negligible ones.