Normative data for olfactory threshold and odor identification in children and adolescents

Publication date: Available online 9 January 2019

Source: International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology

Author(s): Janine Gellrich, Lisa-Marie Sparing-Paschke, Theresa Thieme, Katharina Schwabe, Annika Dworschak, Thomas Hummel, Valentin A. Schriever

Abstract

Objective

Although previous studies have demonstrated the feasibility and validity of olfactory testing in children and adolescents using the "Sniffin' Sticks" odor threshold and "U-Sniff" odor identification test, normative data obtained in a large sample for these tests are missing. Aim of this study was therefore to obtain normative data of healthy children and adolescents for olfactory assessment.

Material and Methods

Olfactory testing was conducted using the "Sniffin' Sticks" olfactory threshold (THR) and the 12-item "U-Sniff" odor identification (ID). The data were collected from 490 children and adolescents (234 girls, 257 boys) between the age of 6 and 17 years (mean age: 11.2±3.4 years). In line with previous studies, participants were divided into subgroups regarding their age: i) 6-8 years, ii) 9-11 years, iii) 12-14 years and iv) 15-17 years.

Results

All participants were able to perform the task. Neither sex nor age significantly influenced THR. Girls outperformed boys in ID. In addition, the youngest age group scored lower than the three other age groups on the "U-Sniff" odor identification test. Using the 10^th percentile to distinguish normosmia from a reduced sense of smell the following values were obtained for the four age groups: i) THR 4.25 points, ID 7 points, ii) THR 5.0 points, ID 9 points, iii) THR 4.75 points, ID 10 points and iv) THR 5.5 points, ID 10 points.

Conclusion

The present study provides normative data for olfactory assessment in children and adolescents using both an olfactory threshold and a suprathreshold test to distinguish between normosmia and a reduced sense of smell using the 10^th percentile.

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