Olfaction in autism: A literature review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33910/2687-0223-2025-7-1-58-66Keywords:
autism spectrum disorder, olfactory system, sensory integration, food neophobia, eating behavior, food selectivity, olfactory sensitivity, olfactory diagnostics, childrenAbstract
The article presents an overview of scientific research on olfactory features identified in children and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The data are analyzed in terms of their possible use in overcoming food neophobia, which is often observed in children with ASD.
The sense of smell plays an important role in the formation of taste sensations, making the study of olfactory features relevant. Research results obtained over the past 15 years have been quite contradictory. Several researchers have shown that individuals with ASD have significantly reduced olfactory sensitivity. Other studies have found that, despite a preserved ability to detect odors, individuals with ASD experience difficulties with odor identification and differentiation. The more pronounced the symptoms of ASD, the greater the difficulties participants had in recognizing smells. There is also a view that individuals with ASD are characterized by olfactory hyperreactivity.
Some critical remarks concern the research procedure. It is suggested that the test results of participants with ASD may be influenced by their cognitive abilities. Most methods for evaluating olfactory function rely on the participants’ verbal responses to perceived odorants. There are also promising electrophysiological methods that allow for more objective results. Further research is necessary, as the sense of smell can significantly affect one’s quality of life. It has been demonstrated that olfactory training reduces the manifestations of food neophobia in children with ASD.
Smell plays a major role in daily life, yet this role has long been underestimated by researchers. Increased or decreased sensitivity to odors in people with ASD is being actively studied, but research results are not yet widely applied in practice. Instrumental studies of olfaction show that it is possible to obtain data on the olfactory system even in non-verbal individuals with cognitive impairments. Further study of the sense of smell in relation to eating behavior opens new prospects for improving the quality of life of children and adults with ASD, as well as their families.
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