Olfactory Function in Healthy Children: Normative Data for Odor Identification

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Olfactory disorders in children may be encountered frequently in the common ear, nose, and throat (ENT) practice. The need for objective measurements in the diagnosis, treatment, and evaluation of olfaction is present. However, for young children most olfactory tests need further normative data to be useful in clinical practice. Therefore, this study aimed to provide normative data in children and to determine possible parameters that influence odor identification test outcome. METHODS: In 201 healthy children reflecting the Dutch population, the Sniffin' Sticks screening test was performed and possible outcome determinants (age, height, gender, weight, peak nasal inspiratory flow, previous ENT surgery, and parental smoking habits) were assessed. RESULTS: Age, gender, and previous ENT surgery seem to influence significantly the outcome of the olfactory test. CONCLUSION: In a general population-based sample of children, normative data of the Sniffin' Sticks screenings test are supplied as well as possible determinants of outcome.