Years after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, some Australians are still living with lasting effects of the virus, prompting Curtin University researchers to investigate how changes to smell, taste and swallowing affect daily life.
While cold and flu symptoms usually pass within days or weeks, some people continue to experience disruptions to these senses months or even years after COVID-19 infection.
The University’s study is focusing on people with Long COVID who continue to experience changes to their smell, taste or swallowing after infection. Researchers hope the findings will improve understanding of these symptoms and help guide future care and treatment.
Speaking to the Examiner, Speech Pathologist and Curtin University PhD candidate Brittany Arnoldi said many people were still dealing with ongoing health issues despite the pandemic being over.
“While many of us are keen to forget about and move on from the COVID-19 pandemic, there are many people in the community who are unable to do so as they are still experiencing ongoing effects following infection with COVID-19,” she said.
“This research is important to understand their experiences for healthcare systems to provide tailored support and treatments.”
Previous research has found changes to smell, taste and swallowing are associated with Long COVID, but Ms Arnoldi said there was still much to learn.
“The nature, characteristics and impact of these changes have not been explored in much detail,” she said.
“This study is hoping to fill this gap and explore if there is a connection between smell, taste and swallowing.”
Recent global studies estimate that up to 20 percent of people with Long COVID experience ongoing changes to their smell and taste. However, researchers say there is still limited information about swallowing changes, while research is continuing into why some people are more likely than others to develop Long COVID.
Ms Arnoldi said the effects could have a significant impact on everyday life.
“Eating and drinking is an important part of our social lives, health and wellbeing,” she said.
“Changes to swallowing, smell and taste can reduce enjoyment of meals, reduce socialisation with family and friends, affect appetite and compromise nutritional health.”
She said people’s experiences with Long COVID varied.
“Some people lose their sense of smell or taste completely. Others find that foods taste different or that familiar smells change,” she said.
“Some people may experience swallowing difficulties like coughing or choking that make eating and drinking more challenging.”
Ms Arnoldi said treatment needed to be personalised to each individual and encouraged people experiencing ongoing symptoms to speak with their usual doctor about available support and treatment options.
She said the research team hoped the study would lead to a better understanding of how smell, taste and swallowing changes affect people’s daily lives and contribute to more tailored care and treatments in the future.
The team is recruiting 10 more Perth adults who have experienced changes to their smell, taste or swallowing following COVID-19. Participants will complete an online survey and, if eligible, may also take part in further assessments and an interview.
People interested in participating in the study can contact the research team at longcovid@curtin.edu.au.
