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Olfactory testing in children using objective tools: comparison of Sniffin' Sticks and University of Pennsylvania
Sarah C Hugh1, Jennifer Siu2, Thomas Hummel3
1Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. sarah.hugh@mail.utoronto.ca.
Insights
Olfactory tests, Sniffin' Sticks and University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT), are reliable for children aged 5 and up. Performance improves with age, with Sniffin' Sticks showing better results.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Olfaction Research
- Sensory Science
- Clinical Assessment Tools
Background:
- Olfactory dysfunction detection is crucial for safety.
- Existing clinical olfactory tests have limited reliability in young children.
- This study investigated olfactory test reliability in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the reliability and performance of two olfactory tests in children.
- To compare the Sniffin' Sticks and University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) in a pediatric population.
- To determine the minimum age for reliable olfactory testing in children.
Main Methods:
- 78 healthy children aged 3-12 years participated.
- Children were administered the Sniffin' Sticks and UPSIT.
- Participants were randomized to test order to assess order effects.
Main Results:
- All children aged 5 and above could complete both tests.
- Performance on both tests showed an age-dependent increase (p < .01).
- Sniffin' Sticks yielded higher scores than UPSIT (65.3% vs. 59.7%, p < .01).
Conclusions:
- Sniffin' Sticks and UPSIT are feasible for children aged 5 years and older.
- Olfactory test performance in children improves with age.
- Sniffin' Sticks may be more practical for clinical use due to potential advantages in attention and reusability.
Background:
Detection of olfactory dysfunction is important for fire and food safety. Clinical tests of olfaction have been developed for adults but their use in children has been limited because they were felt to be unreliable in children under six years of age. We therefore administered two olfactory tests to children and compared results across tests.
Methods:
Two olfactory tests (Sniffin' Sticks and University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT)) were administered to 78 healthy children ages 3 to 12 years. Children were randomized to one of two groups: Group 1 performed the UPSIT first and Sniffin' Sticks second, and Group 2 performed Sniffin' Sticks first and UPSIT second.
Results:
All children were able to complete both olfactory tests. Performance on both tests was similar for children 5 and 6 years of age. There was an age-dependent increase in score on both tests (p < .01). Children performed better on the Sniffin' Sticks than the UPSIT (65.3% versus 59.7%, p < .01). There was no difference in performance due to order of test presentation.
Conclusions:
The Sniffin' Sticks and UPSIT olfactory tests can both be completed by children as young as 5 years of age. Performance on both tests increased with increasing age. Better performance on the Sniffin' Sticks than the UPSIT may be due to a decreased number of test items, better ability to maintain attention, or decreased olfactory fatigue. The ability to reuse Sniffin' Sticks on multiple children may make it more practical for clinical use.
