Normosmia

Normosmia refers to the state of having a normal sense of smell. It is the condition where the olfactory system functions properly, allowing an individual to accurately detect and perceive odors within a typical range and intensity. In other words, a person with normosmia can smell things as they are generally smelled by others with healthy olfactory function.

Normosmia is often used as a baseline or reference point when discussing olfactory disorders such as anosmia (loss of smell), hyposmia (decreased sense of smell), hyperosmia (increased sensitivity to smell), parosmia (distorted sense of smell), and phantosmia (olfactory hallucinations). Determining whether a patient experiences normosmia is a key step in diagnosing olfactory dysfunction. Testing for normosmia often involves using standardized odor identification tests or threshold tests to assess the patient's ability to detect and identify specific scents at various concentrations. Factors that can influence the perception of smell and thus impact a diagnosis of normosmia include age, gender, genetics, environmental exposures, and underlying medical conditions.