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Hypersensitive to smell

EllieP

Hey guys

I’m 32 and was recently diagnosed with Level 1 ASD. From a young age, I’ve always struggled with food textures and smells, particularly smells. Growing up, the smells in restaurants were so overwhelming that I couldn’t eat out with my family because they made me feel physically sick.

I never really understood why I was like this until I received my diagnosis.

My 9 year old nephew is also extremely sensitive to smells, which got me thinking about how common this is in autistic people.

I always thought sensory sensitivities around textures and sounds were more widely talked about in autism, so I’m curious to know if anyone else has experienced similar issues with smells, particularly when it comes to food?

  • I had my autism test some time ago  now and sensory was listed. Sensory processing issues can be  a part autism as you know and our senses are part of the sensory processing system and smell is one of our nine senses

    Smell (Olfactory) affects me. 

    I wanted to say if you haven’t seen it this website has some information on sensory processing disorder and autism.

    https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/about-autism/sensory-processing

    • Water from certain taps; due to chlorine or other vapours.  This was especially true in the countryside or certain brands. I often detect (and get scared at) small air bubbles or fine dust from when they repair bursted water pipes. Now I drink it anyways.
    • Blue or smelly cheese would make me run away pretty much. More so when young though, now I often like it.

    --------

    Non-food or water related:

    Also smells tend to become omnipresent (any better word?) and keep me thinking about them.

    Other smells I have sensitivity for are pets and people, and some other smells too.

  • Yep, I hate the smell of BBQ's and fish and chips and that general canteen smell you get in so many shops or hospitals and other places.

    I'm particularly sensitive to perfumes and laundry products, febreeze makes me really wheezy and yesterday I was out walking with my dog and this van pulled up to ask me for directions and the aftershave smell almost knocked me over, I was so glad I was outside and the encounter only lasted a few seconds, but even then it took about 10 mins before my head and lungs cleared.