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Ratings of Overall Olfactory Function

Ratings of Overall Olfactory Function The aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy of self-reported ratings of olfactory function in 83 healthy subjects. Such ratings were compared with quantitative measures of olfactory function, as well as with ratings of nasal patency. In experiment 1 subjects rated olfactory function and nasal patency before olfactory testing, whereas in experiment 2 the reverse was the case. No feedback regarding test results were provided until after completion of the testing. The principal findings were: (i) when ratings preceded measurements of olfactory function, there was no significant correlation between the two parameters. However, ratings of olfactory function correlated significantly with ratings of nasal airway patency. (ii) In contrast, when measurements of olfactory function preceded the ratings, this constellation switched. Now ratings of olfactory function correlated significantly with measured olfactory function, whereas there was no significant correlation between ratings of nasal airway patency and ratings of olfactory function. In conclusion, these data suggest that ratings of olfactory function are unreliable in healthy, untrained subjects. The ratings seem to reflect changes of nasal airway patency to a larger degree than measurable olfactory function. The results further indicate that this is mainly due to the limited attention the sense of smell receives in daily life. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Chemical Senses Oxford University Press

Ratings of Overall Olfactory Function

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References (19)

Publisher
Oxford University Press
Copyright
© Published by Oxford University Press.
ISSN
0379-864X
eISSN
1464-3553
DOI
10.1093/chemse/bjg061
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy of self-reported ratings of olfactory function in 83 healthy subjects. Such ratings were compared with quantitative measures of olfactory function, as well as with ratings of nasal patency. In experiment 1 subjects rated olfactory function and nasal patency before olfactory testing, whereas in experiment 2 the reverse was the case. No feedback regarding test results were provided until after completion of the testing. The principal findings were: (i) when ratings preceded measurements of olfactory function, there was no significant correlation between the two parameters. However, ratings of olfactory function correlated significantly with ratings of nasal airway patency. (ii) In contrast, when measurements of olfactory function preceded the ratings, this constellation switched. Now ratings of olfactory function correlated significantly with measured olfactory function, whereas there was no significant correlation between ratings of nasal airway patency and ratings of olfactory function. In conclusion, these data suggest that ratings of olfactory function are unreliable in healthy, untrained subjects. The ratings seem to reflect changes of nasal airway patency to a larger degree than measurable olfactory function. The results further indicate that this is mainly due to the limited attention the sense of smell receives in daily life.

Journal

Chemical SensesOxford University Press

Published: Oct 1, 2003

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