Development of an International Odor Identification Test for Children: The Universal Sniff Test
Valentin A Schriever1, Eduardo Agosin2, Aytug Altundag3
1Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medizinische Fakultät Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität, Dresden, Germany; Abteilung Neuropädiatrie, Medizinische Fakultät Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität, Dresden, Germany.
Insights
The Universal Sniff (U-Sniff) test accurately assesses children's sense of smell. This validated odor identification test is reliable for diagnosing olfactory dysfunction in children globally.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric medicine
- Otolaryngology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Olfactory dysfunction can impact a child's quality of life and development.
- Existing methods for assessing children's sense of smell are limited.
- A standardized, validated test is needed for pediatric olfactory assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate olfactory function in children.
- To develop and validate the Universal Sniff (U-Sniff) odor identification test.
- To establish normative data for pediatric olfactory function.
Main Methods:
- Multicenter study across 19 countries involving 1760 children aged 5-7 years.
- Three-phase development: odor identification, odorant selection, and test evaluation.
- Test-retest reliability assessed in 27 children; validation in 14 with congenital anosmia.
Main Results:
- The U-Sniff test includes 12 familiar odors.
- Children achieved a mean score of 9.88 ± 1.80 out of 12.
- High test-retest reliability (r=0.83) and excellent diagnostic accuracy (100% sensitivity, 86% specificity) for congenital anosmia.
Conclusions:
- The U-Sniff test is a valid and reliable tool for assessing olfactory function in children.
- The test provides a standardized method for diagnosing olfactory dysfunction.
- The U-Sniff test is suitable for international use in pediatric populations.
Objective:
To assess olfactory function in children and to create and validate an odor identification test to diagnose olfactory dysfunction in children, which we called the Universal Sniff (U-Sniff) test.
Study Design:
This is a multicenter study involving 19 countries. The U-Sniff test was developed in 3 phases including 1760 children age 5-7 years. Phase 1: identification of potentially recognizable odors; phase 2: selection of odorants for the odor identification test; and phase 3: evaluation of the test and acquisition of normative data. Test-retest reliability was evaluated in a subgroup of children (n = 27), and the test was validated using children with congenital anosmia (n = 14).
Results:
Twelve odors were familiar to children and, therefore, included in the U-Sniff test. Children scored a mean ± SD of 9.88 ± 1.80 points out of 12. Normative data was obtained and reported for each country. The U-Sniff test demonstrated a high test-retest reliability (r27 = 0.83, P < .001) and enabled discrimination between normosmia and children with congenital anosmia with a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 86%.
Conclusions:
The U-Sniff is a valid and reliable method of testing olfaction in children and can be used internationally.
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