How can one taste but not smell?

[proud yet puzzled mom]

My 18-year old daughter has no ability to smell yet has a well-developed sense of taste. We did not realize her anosma until she was 8 because she had always commented on how foods tasted.
Don't know if she was born this way.
She had an MRI, EN&T tests, neurology tests that confirmed her lack of smell but abitity to taste. She has baffled everyone. She had Bell's Paulsy as a baby- high antibiotics to treat- and
could THIS have caused her condition? Any chance her sense of smell could get 'turned on' as everything is there according to the x-rays? Has anyone had a similar situation? Suggestions? Aromatherapy? What an elusive sense to be missing! thanks.
-Proud Yet Puzzled Mom

[shaun327]

A related discussion, I can taste but not smell was started.

[rhianna_jordan]

I can't smell anything unless its like either right nxt to my nose or on it, how can i smell again, i need ur help, plz

[National Jewish]

It is possible to have an isolated cranial nerve deficit.  This could be from intrauterine, birth trauma, a viral infection or possibly a developmental problem.  It is not clear if this problem will resolve spontaneously.

[starion]

I have a very limited sense of smell, which gets better or worse at various times.  At it's worst, I can't smell instant coffee placed inches from my nose, nor a baking turkey, nor food burning on the stove (which is a bit dangerous).  (I often couldn't smell dirty diapers when the kids were wearing them--I'm grateful for small blessings.)  Sometimes, the sense of smell improves somewhat, so I get small or huge "whiffs" of smell, particularly the fragrance ads, shampoo & cosmetic frangrances which set off all our allergies.  The irony is that the scents can set off my allergies even when I can't smell so none of us can figure out why my allergies have been triggered.  Even when I can't smell AT ALL, food still has taste, though I admit it is probably not as keen as when I was able to smell better all of the time.
I've been to an ENT & other doctors and am undergoing allergy shots to help my lung function.  The allergist says that if anything interferes with the nerves which allow us to smell, we m-a-y the sense of smell can permanently be lost, or m-a-y gradually come back.  None of my docs can explain precisely why my sense of smell comes and goes as it does; it does not appear to be related to my allergy control or allergy shots.
Sorry not to have answers for you, but glad your daughter is doing well.
Aloha,
Starion