When I was first coming to terms with my loss of smell in 2019, I was rsearching if anosmia is a disability. Most of the results I found said "no" (incorrect) and the few that said "yes" had very bad reasons to justify that ("because pheromones" is not one of the many reasons anosmia is disabling). So to try and make it easier for at least someone, here's an incomplete list of reasons anosmia is disabling:
Impaired ability to sense if food, especially meat, is rotten or past due.
Impaired ability to detect smoke or gas leaks.
Impaired ability to gauge the cleanliness of laundry.
Impaired ability to gauge the difference between strong and weak scents, like when picking a soap, detergent, or deodorant.
(and because of that often requiring the assistance of another person when picking cleaning or hygiene products)
Social impairments including difficulty detecting body odor or the smell of shared spaces like cars, rooms, and living spaces.
Impairment gauging environmental dangers such as cigarette smoke, vape smoke, car emissions, and chemicals which can still trigger allergic reactions or asthma attacks.
Impairment recognizing, locating, and disposing of dangers in the home such as living and dead pests, animal droppings, and rotting things, especially when they're not visibly obvious.
Others with anosmia are encouraged to add their experiences.
romaincrisis
annaxmalina
origamiaround
baratheonpilled
titsay
blakekathryn
