What it is
Our noses pick up information about the odours around us and passes this to our brains. We discriminate between thousands of different odours to distinguish whether smells are dangerous, strong, faint, pleasurable or foul. The olfactory system is closely related to our limbic systems which is responsible for our emotions and memory. The olfactory system is also closely related to our sense of taste.
Hypersensitive
| Potential signs | Potential impact | Strategies to assist with learning |
|---|---|---|
| Potential signsNegative reactions to smell | Potential impactIssues associated with the avoidance of people or places | Strategies to assist with learningCareful selection of washing powder and use of perfume etc |
| Potential signsAvoids people or places who smell too much such as because of perfume | Potential impact | Strategies to assist with learningConsider the lunch hall environment and support with the child being able to eat in a different room with fewer smells. |
| Potential signs | Potential impact | Strategies to assist with learningConsider removal of carpets, frequent toilet cleaning and good ventilation to improve residual smell. |
Hyposensitive
| Potential signs | Potential impact | Strategies to assist learning |
|---|---|---|
| Potential signsSmells everything | Potential impactAppearing over familiar with people | Strategies to assist learningUse cognitive and verbal strategies to explain behaviours in public. |
| Potential signs | Potential impactUnhygienic practices | Strategies to assist learningOffer alternative options such as wearing perfume, create a bag with good smells to use. |
