Taste and smell are the senses that make life sweeter. They provide an emotional context as well as valuable information about safety and well-being. A partial or total loss of these senses can be bewildering and can inhibit the patient socially and professionally. Getting to the root of your smell and taste disorder is best accomplished with the help of a skilled ear, nose, and throat specialist such as Dr. Zadeh. A loss of taste and smell can be caused by polyps in the nasal cavity, a deviated septum, sinus disorders, or in rare cases, brain tumors.
Taste and smell disorders can range from mildly annoying to debilitating, and in all cases, they may diminish one's quality of life.
Some causes of smell and taste disorders include:
The first step is to undergo a detailed consultation with Dr. Zadeh. He will perform a physical evaluation and a thorough review of your medical history. He will test you for allergies and gather a list of your current and previous medications. Getting to the root cause of your taste and smell disorder is Dr. Zadeh’s primary focus. Diagnostic testing may include a CT scan, an endoscopic sinus or nasal exam, and olfactory function testing if needed.
If your taste and smell disorder turns out to be a result of sinusitis, a deviated septum, or nasal polyps, Dr. Zadeh can perform several strategic procedures to help alleviate your symptoms. These treatments may include balloon sinuplasty, endoscopic sinus surgery, sinuva implant surgery, or other procedures.
In some cases, when the smell and taste disorder is due to seasonal allergies, the patient will regain their sense of smell and taste without any medical intervention. If smoking is the cause, then the doctor can counsel the client to participate in a smoking cessation program. Likewise, if certain medications are to blame for the loss of smell and taste, the doctor can modify your prescriptions.
If you have noticed a gradual or sudden loss of taste or smell, you may be alarmed and in desperate need of some answers. Whether your taste and smell senses are functioning in a distorted fashion, or they are completely gone, you may be an excellent candidate for treatment by a top-rated ENT. Dr. Zadeh will perform an in-depth consultation to get to the bottom of your impaired senses and create a solution that is customized to your needs.
Recovery will vary from patient to patient, based on what procedure was performed in order to restore a sense of taste and smell. Dr. Zadeh will go over your individual aftercare plan with you, providing instructions and a recovery timeline. Most clients experience tremendous relief and benefit from undergoing surgical procedures with Dr. Zadeh.
As the founder of the Los Angeles Sinus Institute, Dr. Zadeh has extensive expertise in diagnosing smell and taste disorders and getting to the root of the problem. Regardless of how complex or convoluted the nature of your condition is, Dr. Zadeh will not stop until he has found a solution. He is adept at a wide range of minimally-invasive, image-guided surgical techniques that utilize cutting edge technology and equipment.
After graduating with honors from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA),
Dr. Zadeh completed his medical degree at the University of California, San Diego. Hethen continued to hone his skills with a residency in Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, at the world-renowned Columbia University in New York City.
Contact the Los Angeles Sinus Institute to schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Zadeh, a board-certified otolaryngologist (head and neck surgeon), in Los Angeles, CA.