It only seems
to make sense now, but before Dr. Henkin began his groundbreaking
research it wasn't really known what caused people to lose their taste
or smell, to experience taste or smell distortions or burning sensations
in their mouth or nose, much less how to treat these problems. |
|
Dr. Henkin has devoted 40 years of his life to discovering methods to diagnose
and treat these problems. Since symptoms of taste and smell dysfunction
are so varied and complex it is understandable that there are many diagnostic
tools that are critical to understand problems, which cause these symptoms.
And only with the diagnosis of these problems is it possible to apply appropriate
treatment for these problems.
HISTORY
In order to understand the cause of the taste and smell dysfunction a
detailed, specific medical history is necessary. The type of special history
necessary to understand your symptoms was developed by Dr. Henkin at The
Clinic and refined through its 40 years of existence. It is a different
and more complex history than ENT physicians or neurologists perform since
Dr. Henkin has such special experience evaluating patients with these
symptoms. He has also developed a series of questionnaires, which patients
at The Clinic complete to allow the staff to understand in detail and
in quantitative terms the cause of your symptoms and complaints.
PHYSICAL
EXAMINATION OF THE HEAD AND NECK
Most problems related to taste and smell dysfunction is not manifested
by any obvious anatomical changes in the head or neck. However, in order
to evaluate any possible physical component of your symptoms a detailed
examination of your head and neck is performed at The Clinic. This involves
examination of external and internal tissues of your head, eyes, nose,
mouth, throat, nose and neck. Specialized examinations of your nose may
be performed using endoscopy and biopsies of nasal or lingual tissues
may be performed if necessary to establish your diagnosis. Other examinations
are also performed as necessary to insure that all aspects of your problem
are fully evaluated.
CLINICAL
LABORATORY TESTS
Because
so many diseases can have taste and smell dysfunction as symptoms of the
disease process itself it is necessary to evaluate your blood, red blood
cells and urine for a variety of parameters to determine if some common
or obscure disease process is initiating your taste and smell symptoms.
These involve diseases as diverse as endocrine, neurological, hematological,
oncological, metabolic or nutritional disorders, to name just a few.
SPECIAL
LABORATORY TESTS
Because anatomical and neurological problems can influence taste and smell
function various other tests may be needed to understand your problem.
CT scans of your sinuses may be useful. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
studies of your brain may be important including special studies such
as diffusion-perfusion studies, functional studies or non-invasive studies
to measure neurotransmitters in specific regions of your brain by MRS(magnetic
resonance spectroscopy). Electrophysiological studies including EEG, EMG
and MEG may be important to understand the cause of your symptom.
TASTE
FUNCTION TESTS
In order to understand the role taste function, per se, plays in your
symptoms a specific battery of psychophysical tests has been developed
at The Clinic to measure all aspects of your taste function. These tests
measure your taste thresholds, (i.e., smallest amount of tastant you can
detect and recognize), your magnitude estimation, (the level at which
you judge intensity of tastants over the entire range of taste) and your
hedonics, (the level at which you judge tastants as pleasant or unpleasant).
Your responses are scaled, quantitated, various analog to digital conversions
made and a quantitative set of parameters of your taste function is generated
which define your total taste function. From these parameters a specific
evaluation of the physiology and pathology of your taste function will
be made which will be related to how to treat you.
SMELL
FUNCTION TESTS
In order to understand the role smell function, per se, plays in your
symptoms a specific battery of psychophysical tests have been developed
at The Clinic to measure all aspects of your smell function. These tests
measure your smell thresholds, (i.e., smallest amount of odorant you can
detect and recognize), your magnitude estimation, (the level at which
you judge intensity of odorants over the entire range of odorants) and
your hedonics, (the level at which you judge smells as pleasant or unpleasant).
Your responses are scaled, quantitated, various analog to digital conversions
made and a quantitative set of parameters of your smell function is generated
which define your total smell function. From these parameters a specific
evaluation of the physiology and pathology of your smell function will
be made which will be related to how to treat you.
These
parameters are also critically important to understand the role any distortions
of taste or smell play in your condition. The sophisticated tests you
will undergo supply Dr. Henkin with data which are not available through
any other testing technique including scratch and sniff smell tests which
cannot and do not yield the quantitative information necessary to establish
your diagnosis or treatment.
SALIVA
TESTS
Dr. Henkin's work extended into study of saliva and its role in health
and disease. Dr. Henkin performed the first published total protein fractionation
of human parotid saliva. With this study Dr. Henkin learned that saliva
contained specific proteins that were growth factors that make taste buds
develop and mature. Without these growth factors, taste buds degenerate.
He learned that specific trace metals, mainly copper and zinc play roles
in activation of these growth factors and that these trace metals influence
genes that control taste bud and olfactory epithelial growth and development.
He also learned that specific diseases inhibit production of these growth
factors and by measuring these proteins and trace metals in saliva he
could determine what are the causes of loss and distortion of your taste
function. These growth factors and trace metals will be measured in your
saliva. These levels will be compared to established standards and results
will be related to the cause of your symptoms.
NASAL
MUCUS TESTS
Dr. Henkin 's work extended into study of nasal mucus and its role in
health and disease Dr. Henkin performed the first published total protein
fractionation of human nasal mucus. With this study Dr. Henkin learned
that nasal mucus also contained specific proteins that were growth factors
that make olfactory epithelial cells develop and mature and without these
growth factors olfactory receptors degenerate. He learned that specific
diseases inhibit production of these growth factors. He also learned that
not only trace metals copper and zinc but also calcium and magnesium play
roles in this system. By measuring these proteins and trace metals in
nasal mucus he learned he could determine what are the causes of loss
and distortion of your smell function. These growth factors and trace
metals will be measured in your nasal mucus. These levels will be compared
to established standards and results will be related to the cause of your
symptoms.
NUTRITIONAL
EVALUATION
Since what you eat may influence your taste and smell and since changes
in your taste and smell may influence what and how much you eat a specific
evaluation of your nutritional status will be made. This evaluation is
generated from your dietary data through use of an integrated computer
program, which compares your intake of all important nutrients, including
minerals, vitamins and all energy containing nutrients with established
national standards. These results allow Dr. Henkin to understand the role
your diet may play in generation of your symptoms.
TRACE
METAL METABOLISM
Because copper, zinc, calcium and magnesium levels in your blood, red
blood cells, urine, saliva and nasal mucus may influence your symptoms
these metals will be measured in each biological fluid and your levels
will be compared with established standards. These results allow Dr. Henkin
to understand the role trace metal metabolism may play in generation of
your symptoms.
DIAGNOSTIC
INTEGRATION
When all these examinations are completed Dr. Henkin and his staff integrate
all the obtained information and a specific personal diagnostic inventory
is established related to the cause of your symptoms. Based upon this
diagnostic inventory a treatment plan or protocol based upon your specific
evaluation will be made so that you may gain relief from your symptoms.
|