Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Ask the Experts

Get answers to your ENT questions by e-mailing Dr. Jeffrey S. Wolf and Dr. Rodney Taylor.

Q&A Archive

Dr. Wolf's Bio | Dr. Taylor's Bio

Note: This is for informational purposes only. Doctors cannot provide a diagnosis via e-mail.

Related Content

Ear, Nose and Throat

Our Services

Patient Success Stories

Our Doctors

Taste - impaired

Alternative Names:

Loss of taste; Metallic taste; Dysgeusia

Home Care:

Follow prescribed therapy, which may include a diet modification. For the common cold or flu , taste senses should return to normal after the illness has past. For smokers, stop smoking.

Call your health care provider if:

Make an appointment with your doctor if your taste problems do not go away, or if abnormal tastes occur with other symptoms.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

The doctor will perform a physical examination and ask questions, including:

If the taste problem is due to allergies or sinusitis, the doctor may give you medicine to relieve the stuffy nose. If a medicine you are taking is to blame, your doctor may recommend that you change your dose or switch to a different drug.

References:

Wrobel BB. Clinical assessment of patients with smell and taste disorders. Otolaryngol Clin North Am . Dec 2004; 37(6):1127-42.

Doty RL. Effects of drugs on olfaction and taste. Otolaryngol Clin North Am . Dec 2004; 37(6):1229-54.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

adam.com