The Voice Issue 7, Summer 2013 | Page 23

with effective early detection systems. To prove how severe the problem can be, we can point you to a series of odour differentiation tests conducted by F Hilgers, F van Dam et al (described on baillement. com) in which 68% of patients were unable to detect any of the test odours. And yet, in spite of findings like this, the problems associated with partial or total loss of smell don’t always receive appropriate attention. Some larys may never regain their sense of smell, while others will find that they only regain partial olfactory capability after many years. Deep breath Deterioration in one’s ability to smell is caused by the disconnection of the upper and lower airways as a result of the laryngectomy procedure. So the key to restoring a working sense of smell is getting as much nasal airflow going as possible. And some larys have learned how to do that through cunning utilisation of ‘the polite yawning method’ – otherwise known as the Nasal AirflowInducing Manoeuvre (NAIM). This is a repeated extended yawning motion through closed lips – that’s why it’s polite – which lowers the jaw, the floor of the mouth and the tongue. This effectively creates negative pressure in the mouth cavity and helps draw in air through the nose. In a study into the ‘Effectiveness of Olfactory Rehabilitation’ carried out in 2007, it was f ??????????????)?????????????????????????)9%4?????????????????????????)??????????????????????????)?????????????????%?????????)???????????????????????a???????)?????????d?????????????????????)???????????????????????????)??????????????????????????)??????????????????????????)?????????????????????????)?????????????????????)????????????????????????)????????????????????????????(??????????????????????????)???????????????????????????)???????????)M????????????????????????)????????????????????????????)???????????????????????????)?????????????????????????)???????????????????????????)???????????????????e???????)??????????????????????????????+?a??????d????????????????%??????)?????????????????????????)????9%4??????????????????)?????????????????????????????????+?Z??????????????????()M??????????Q!?Y=% ((??((0