After total laryngectomy, the sense of smell/olfaction is impaired in most of the individuals, who underwent this surgery. The consequential stoma breathing prevents odors to pass the nose and reach the olfactory organ. This organ is still functional, but passive and active smelling (sniffing) thus becomes a problem. Fortunately, there is a solution. In 2000, Hilgers and co-workers published an effective rehabilitation method to restore the sense of smell after total laryngectomy, the so-called "Polite Yawning technique" or "Nasal Airflow Inducing Maneuver" (NAIM) (1).
Even though in the meantime numerous studies from a wide variety of countries have confirmed the validity of this method (2), and its positive effects on the Quality of postlaryngectomy Life, its implementation in everyday practice by health care professionals is still slow. Hence, this dedicated website, that makes all the relevant information freely available, both to health care professionals and patients.
Preferably this method is taught by a trained speech pathologist, but patients themselves also can already get familiar with this option. There are a few simple devices that can be helpful to acquire the technique, and these also are described in the instruction materials and the book shown below.
The main point to remember is that passive smelling, which is a “bonus” from nasal breathing, never can be restored, but active smelling can. This means that one should realise that for simulating passive smelling, the Polite Yawning manoeuvre/NAIM should become an automatism, i.e., always should be applied whenever there is a change of environment, entering a room, walking in the forest, while cooking and eating, etc.
Success with your rehab.
