Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Enrolling by Invitation

NCT Number: NCT06115291

Olfactory Training in Various Populations

To date, there is no validated pharmacotherapy for olfactory disorders. Interestingly, olfactory training - the intentional exposure to odorants for the purposes of retraining the sense of smell - has shown success with as many as 28% of subjects over the course of 12 weeks.

Enrolling by Invitation

Interested in participating?

Request Info

Key information

Conditions

Olfactory Disorder Brain Concussion Brain Diseases Brain Injuries Brain Injuries, Traumatic Central Nervous System Diseases Concussion, Brain Craniocerebral Trauma Head Injuries, Closed Nervous System Diseases Neurologic Manifestations Olfaction Disorders Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Sensation Disorders Signs and Symptoms Smell Disorder Trauma, Nervous System Traumatic Brain Injury Wounds and Injuries Wounds, Nonpenetrating

Age range

18 year–80 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Kansas Medical Center

Kansas City, Kansas, 66160, United States

About this study

Study Objectives: The overall, primary goals of these studies are as follows:

  • To compare the outcomes of our olfactory testing battery for olfactory training to the previously published literature
  • To determine if using a larger panel of odorants (our 15 scents versus the 4 scents previously used in the literature) yields a significant difference in olfactory recovery.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 18-80
  • Quantifiable or subjective olfactory dysfunction
  • ability to complete objective olfactory tests and comply with olfactory training protocol

Exclusion criteria

  • Anyone lower than the age of 18, or greater than the age of 80
  • Pregnant women, as sinonasal symptoms and changes in smell can occur in pregnancy and are multifactorial
  • Patients with poor or questionable compliance, as participation requires daily compliance with study protocol
  • Patient's that are unable to perform routine follow-up
  • Patients who are participating in another study during this trial
  • Patients with dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, or other neurocognitive disorders, as these conditions are associated with baseline olfactory dysfunction.
  • Patients with other systemic conditions known to impact the sinonasal cavity such as Wegener's granulomatosis, Churg Strauss, and immunodeficiency, as their impact on olfaction is unknown
  • Patients who are allergic to any of the smells or components of our olfactory testing and training

Treatment and study plan

Smell Test

Other

Oils are used for each of the different scents. Each scent is administered via an aromatherapy inhaling stick.

Primary outcomes

  1. Olfactory Threshold

    Time frame: Change from baseline to month 6

    Changes in olfactory threshold when comparing pre- and post-olfactory training for performance in terms of percent correct per specific scent and overall combination of percent correct for all tested scents

  2. Olfactory Identification

    Time frame: Change from baseline to month 6

    Changes in ability to detect and identify scents when comparing pre- and post-olfactory training for percent detected per individual scents and as a composite score reflecting performance on all scents

Secondary outcomes

  1. Tolerance with Olfactory Training Protocol

    Time frame: At follow-up visits

    Self-reported tolerance with following olfactory training protocol

  2. Neurocognition

    Time frame: Change from baseline to month 6

    Assessment of neurocognition and impact on olfactory quality of life using the Mini-Mental Status Exam (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Kansas Medical Center

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2020
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2028
First posted
Nov 2, 2023
Registry last updated
Jun 16, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.