Our sense of smell has two very different purposes. One is related to enjoyment, the scent of flowers, perfume, or delicious food cooking. Our sense of smell also functions as a powerful warning system. For example, we might detect a fire from the smell of burning. Likewise we would not eat a food if it smelled bad, as this would indicate spoilage.
Taste and smell are closely linked as they follow the same neural pathway. Our brains are wired so that we can respond appropriately to smells and tastes however, for some children they may be over or under sensitive to this. For some children differences with the senses of taste and smell can have a significant impact on the foods they will accept. Some children will only eat bland food whilst others crave spicy, pungent foods. Whilst it is almost impossible to change how someone processes smell and taste, there are strategies you can use to help a child cope with the differences they may experience for this sense.
Under-sensitive
- Some people have no sense of smell and fail to notice extreme odours (this can include their own body odour).
- Some people may lick things to get a better sense of what they are.
- You could help by creating a routine around regular washing and using strong-smelling products to distract people from inappropriate strong-smelling stimuli (like faeces).
Over-sensitive
- smells can be intense and overpowering. This can cause toileting problems
- dislikes people with distinctive perfumes, shampoos, etc.
- You could help by using unscented detergents or shampoos, avoiding wearing perfume, and making the environment as fragrance-free as possible.
Smell information goes directly to the emotional centre of the brain, its effects are therefore fast; smells can be reassuring and organising or create anxiety and stress.
Smells in the environment can easily be overlooked by adults whose sensory system is not impacted by them. So ALWAYS think what smells are present.
Be mindful of the smells that you add to the environment, it is very easy to layer a number of different smells (shampoo, shower gel, hair spray and scent), that make the environment hostile to the CYP. It is important that if smell is an issue for the CYP we consider how we add-to the smell environment and try to make the smell environment as CYP friendly as possible.
Smell of a parent or favourite food can be used to support the CYP’s calming, these can be carried by the CYP using a handkerchief with this smell infused into it. The CYP can access this when and where they need to in a discrete manner.
What you Might See
If a CYP is seeking more smells (olfactory stimuli) they may:
- Sniff other people
- Sniff foods before eating them
- Sniff items for exploration
- Enjoy ‘smelly’ places, foods, products and people
If a CYP is under responsive to smells (olfactory stimuli) they may:
- Be unable to smell even strong odours
- Be unable to identify items by smell alone
- Have poor personal hygiene awareness
If a CYP is over responsive to smells (olfactory stimuli) they may:
- Have strong dislike/like of people based upon how they smell
- Gag or vomit for ‘no reason’
- Struggle in ‘smelly’ places such as kitchens, bathrooms, perfume counters, restaurants
- Become distracted or distressed seemingly for no reason but due to smells around them that others might not notice
You can support these olfactory/smell sensory processing needs by using some of the following activities:
Please find additional activities:
https://www.localoffer.derbyshire.gov.uk/site-elements/documents/education-and-learning/spn/spn-smell-and-taste.pdf
A heightened sense of smell can create problems for those with autism, causing serious physical reactions such as nausea and vomiting. However, you can also use your heightened sense of smell to calm down during times of stress and anxiety for example by putting perfume on a scarf. You may also use smell to help you remember things and people.