Sensory
LINKS
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Observed to negatively react to smells
(e.g. becomes nauseated, irritated, bothered by smells) -
Does not like, or is bothered by smells that do not typically bother others
(e.g. bothered by household smells, cooking smells)
(e.g. may not want to play at a friend's house because of the way it smells) -
Tells others how bad/funny they smell
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May decide to like someone/someplace based on its smell
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Refuses to eat foods because of their smell
Olfactory System
What is the Olfactory System?
The olfactory system, which involves our ability to interpret smells, is the first sensory system to develop after birth. Specialised odour receptors, located on olfactory neutrons high in the nose, are stimulated by microscopic molecules from the environment. This information is then sent to the brain, where the smell is identified and understood. Our brain can detect and recognise different smells. It is able to discriminate between different odours, recognise odours, and filter odours.
Signs of Dysfunction
Hypersensitivity to Input
Individuals with a hypersensitivity to olfactory (smell) input often referred to as sensory avoiders, these are students that ...
Hyposensitivity to Input
Individuals with a hyposensitivity to olfactory input (smell) often referred to as sensory seeking, these are students that ...
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Has difficulty discriminating unpleasant odours
(e.g. may not be able to identify noxious odours) -
Doesn't notice, or appears unbothered by typically unpleasant odours
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Excessively smells new objects, people or places
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Observed to use smell when interacting with objects
[Neuroscientifically Challenged, 2018]