Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-02T20:11:49.811Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Comparison of subjective olfaction ratings in patients with and without olfactory disorders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 May 2012

B R Haxel ,
S Bertz-Duffy ,
K Fruth ,
S Letzel ,
W J Mann  and
A Muttray
B R Haxel*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany
S Bertz-Duffy
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany
K Fruth
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany
S Letzel
Affiliation:
Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany
W J Mann
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany
A Muttray
Affiliation:
Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Boris R Haxel, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Langenbeckstr 1, D-55101 Mainz, Germany Fax: +49 6131176637 E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective:

Olfactory dysfunction is common. The reliability of self-assessment tools for smell testing is still controversial. This study aimed to provide new data about the accuracy of olfactory self-assessment compared with a standardised smell test.

Design:

Prospective, controlled, cohort study of patients with olfactory disorders and healthy controls.

Subjects:

Ninety-six patients with a smell deficit and 71 controls were asked to rate their sense of smell on a visual analogue scale. Their olfactory abilities were also evaluated with the Sniffin' Sticks tests.

Results:

The whole cohort showed a significant correlation between visual analogue scale smell scores and Sniffin' Sticks total scores. This correlation was also significant in the patient group, but not in the control group. These results were independent of olfactory deficit aetiology and subject age.

Conclusion:

Self-assessment of olfaction is only a reliable indicator in smell-impaired patients, not in healthy controls. For an accurate assessment of olfaction, reliable, standardised tests are needed.

Keywords

OlfactionOlfaction DisordersDiagnosisVisual Analogue Scale
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 126 , Issue 7 , July 2012 , pp. 692 - 697
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Landis, BN, Konnerth, CG, Hummel, T. A study on the frequency of olfactory dysfunction. Laryngoscope 2004;114:1764–9CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2Damm, M, Temmel, A, Welge-Lüssen, A, Eckel, HE, Kreft, M-P, Klussmann, JP et al. Olfactory dysfunction – epidemiological data and treatment strategies in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland [in German]. HNO 2004;52:112–20CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3Gudziol, V, Hummel, C, Negoias, S, Ishimaru, T, Hummel, T. Lateralized differences in olfactory function. Laryngoscope 2007;117:808–11CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4Hummel, T. Retronasal perception of odors. Chem Biodivers 2008;5:853–61CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5Muttray, A, Haxel, B, Mann, W, Letzel, S. Toxic anosmia and rhinitis due to occupational solvent exposure [in German]. HNO 2006;54:883–7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6Wolfensberger, M, Schnieper, I, Welge-Lüssen, A. Sniffin' Sticks: a new olfactory test battery. Acta Otolaryngol 2000;120:303–6CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7Doty, RL, Shaman, P, Kimmelman, CP, Dann, MS. University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test: a rapid quantitative olfactory function test for the clinic. Laryngoscope 1984;94:176–8CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8Welge-Luessen, A, Hummel, T, Stojan, T, Wolfensberger, M. What is the correlation between ratings and measures of olfactory function in patients with olfactory loss? Am J Rhinol 2005;19:567–71CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9Philpott, CM, Wolstenholme, CR, Goodenough, PC, Clark, A, Murty, GE. Comparison of subjective perception with objective measurement of olfaction. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2006;134:488–90CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10Landis, BN, Hummel, T, Hugentobler, M, Giger, R, Lacroix, JS. Ratings of overall olfactory function. Chem Senses 2003;28:691–4CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11Kobal, G, Klimek, L, Wolfensberger, M, Gudziol, H, Temmel, A, Owen, CM et al. Multicenter investigation of 1,036 subjects using a standardized method for the assessment of olfactory function combining tests of odor identification, odor discrimination, and olfactory thresholds. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2000;257:205–11CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12Hummel, T, Kobal, G, Gudziol, H, Mackay-Sim, A. Normative data for the “Sniffin' Sticks” including tests of odor identification, odor discrimination, and olfactory thresholds: an upgrade based on a group of more than 3,000 subjects. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2007;264:237–43CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13Klimek, L, Hummel, T, Moll, B, Kobal, G, Mann, WJ. Lateralized and bilateral olfactory function in patients with chronic sinusitis compared with healthy control subjects. Laryngoscope 1998;108:111–14CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14Gudziol, V, Lotsch, J, Hahner, A, Zahnert, T, Hummel, T. Clinical significance of results from olfactory testing. Laryngoscope 2006;116:1858–63CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15Knaapila, A, Tuorila, H, Kyvik, KO, Wright, MJ, Keskitalo, K, Hansen, J et al. Self-ratings of olfactory function reflect odor annoyance rather than olfactory acuity. Laryngoscope 2008;118:2212–17CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16Hummel, T, Sekinger, B, Wolf, SR, Pauli, E, Kobal, G. ‘Sniffin’ sticks': olfactory performance assessed by the combined testing of odor identification, odor discrimination and olfactory threshold. Chem Senses 1997;22:39–52CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed