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Test for screening olfactory function in children
Karolina Dżaman1, Beata Zielnik-Jurkiewicz, Dariusz Jurkiewicz
1ENT Department, Czerniakowski Hospital in Warsaw, 19/25 Stepinska St., 00-739 Warsaw, Poland. kfrydel@poczta.onet.pl
Insights
This study identified six key odors recognizable by children in Poland, including bubble gum, lemon, and fish. This olfactory screening test is effective for children as young as three years old.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Olfaction
- Sensory Science
- Cross-cultural Psychology
Background:
- Limited research exists on odor recognition in children from Poland and Eastern Europe.
- Olfactory screening tests are valuable diagnostic tools for children's health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine odors recognizable by Polish children for a potential screening olfactory test.
- To establish normative data for olfactory recognition in Eastern European children.
Main Methods:
- A 21-odor olfactory test was administered to 91 children (aged 2.9-10 years) in Warsaw.
- Children were grouped by age, and 85 completed the full test.
- Statistical analysis identified significant factors influencing odor recognition.
Main Results:
- Age significantly impacts the number of odors children can identify (p=0.0001; r=0.676).
- Six odors (bubble gum, lemon, cola, mint, toffee, fish) were identified for the screening test.
- 96.5% of children correctly identified at least 4 of the 6 odors, establishing a norm.
Conclusions:
- Olfactory evaluation is feasible in children from age 3.
- Odor recognition is influenced by age, geographic location, and eating habits.
- The 6-odor test is valid, reliable, fast, easy, and inexpensive for olfactory screening in Eastern European children.
Objective:
The research determining odors recognizable by children from Poland and Eastern Europe has not been widely described in the literature. The aim of the study was to determine the odors recognizable by Polish children which could be used in a screening olfactory test.
Methods:
The study was performed in Children's Hospital in Warsaw. Ninety-one children aged from 2.9 years to 10 years (SD=5.6 years) were examined, 85 (93.4%) of which completed a full olfactory test. Children were separated into three age groups. The olfactory test consisted of 21 odors.
Results:
The analysis of the results of all children's examinations showed statistically significant influence of age on the number of odors identified (p=0.0001; r=0.676). The olfactory test score enabled identification of 6 odors to be included in the screening test: bubble gum, lemon, cola, mint, toffee, fish. Correct identification of at least 4 out of them was accepted as a norm and was achieved by 96.5% of children.
Conclusions:
Olfactory evaluation is possible for children as young as 3 years old. Child's age influences the number of odors recognized and the specific odors recognition depends also on the home place geographic location and eating habits. Eastern European children most often recognized the following odors: bubble gum, lemon, cola, mint, toffee and fish, as so these odors were considered for olfactory screening test. The 6 odors test has good ability to generalize performance to olfactory status, has normative data and good validity and reliability, is fast, easy and inexpensive to administer.
