Odor identification performance in children aged 3-6 years
Valentin A Schriever1, Liesa Zscheile2, Janine Gellrich2
1Abteilung Neuropädiatrie, Klinik und Poliklinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, Medizinische Fakultät Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität, Dresden, Germany. valentin.schriever@universitätsklinikum-dresden.de.
Insights
The U-Sniff odor identification test is reliable and valid for children aged 4 and older, aiding in diagnosing olfactory dysfunction. This olfactory testing method is feasible for children as young as 3 years old.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Medicine
- Neuroscience
- Sensory Science
Background:
- Olfactory testing has lacked systematic evaluation in children under 5 years old.
- Existing olfactory tests are validated for children over 5 years.
- Young children's olfactory function assessment requires reliable tools.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the reliability and validity of the U-Sniff odor identification test in children aged 3-6 years.
- To determine the feasibility of olfactory testing in preschool-aged children.
- To assess the U-Sniff test's ability to differentiate between healthy children and those with anosmia.
Main Methods:
- 160 healthy children (3-6 years) and 14 congenitally anosmic children participated.
- Two identical testing sessions were conducted using the U-Sniff test.
- Picture Identification Test (PIT) and Kasel-Concentration-Task (KKA) were used to assess influencing factors.
Main Results:
- Older children (≥4 years) showed significantly better odor identification scores.
- U-Sniff demonstrated high test-retest reliability (r=0.75).
- The test accurately distinguished anosmic from healthy children (79-95% sensitivity, 88-95% specificity) from age 4.
Conclusions:
- The U-Sniff test is a feasible olfactory assessment tool for children aged 3 and up.
- For children aged 4 years and older, U-Sniff is a reliable and valid method for diagnosing anosmia.
- This study provides crucial data for clinical diagnosis of olfactory dysfunction in young children.
Background:
While valid and reliable olfactory tests have been developed for children aged >5 years, olfactory testing has not systematically been evaluated in younger children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the "U-Sniff" odor identification test in children aged 3-6 years.
Methods:
We included 160 healthy children (age range 3-6 years) and 14 congenitally anosmic children. Participants were investigated in two identical sessions. The "U-Sniff" test was used to evaluate olfactory function. A picture identification test (PIT) and the Kasel-Concentration-Task (KKA) were administered to identify factors influencing odor identification performance.
Results:
Age significantly influenced odor identification performance, with older children achieving higher scores. PIT and KKA scores correlated positively with odor identification scores. The "U-Sniff" test demonstrated a high test-retest reliability (r160 = 0.75, p < 0.001). It was possible to distinguish between healthy and anosmic children by means of "U-Sniff" scores starting at age 4 years with high sensitivity (79-93%) and specificity (88-95%).
Conclusions:
The "U-Sniff" test is feasible for children starting at age 3 years. In children aged ≥4 years, it is a reliable and valid method to distinguish between normal olfactory function and anosmia.
Impact:
Olfactory testing is reliable and valid starting at an age of 4 years. The study adds a systematic evaluation of olfactory testing in young children. Results of this study are especially interesting for clinicians in the diagnosis of olfactory dysfunction.
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