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Odour detection in children and young people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities

Geneviève Petitpierre1, Juliane Dind1, Catherine De Blasio1

  • 1Department of Special Education, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.

Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities : JARID
|December 3, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) can distinguish between different smells, including food and non-food items, and pleasant versus unpleasant odors. Their olfactory detection abilities are evident through specific behaviors like head alignment duration.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Sensory Science

Background:

  • Olfactory abilities in children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) are largely unexplored.
  • Olfaction plays a crucial role in environmental perception.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the olfactory detection abilities in children and young people with PIMD.
  • To understand how individuals with PIMD perceive and respond to different odor categories.

Main Methods:

  • A within-subjects design was employed with 22 participants (aged 7-18 years) with PIMD.
  • Participants were exposed to 18 medium-intensity odors and a control stimulus in a randomized order.
  • Behavioral responses, including head alignment duration, were measured using 21 indicators.

Main Results:

  • Participants demonstrated a clear ability to differentiate between odorous and neutral conditions.
  • A distinction was observed between food and non-food odors, as well as pleasant and unpleasant scents.
  • Olfactory detection was indicated by specific behaviors, notably the duration of head alignment towards the odorant.

Conclusions:

  • Individuals with PIMD possess detectable olfactory abilities.
  • Participants exhibited differential behavioral responses based on odor category, suggesting cognitive processing of olfactory information.
Abstract

Keywords:
odourolfactionprofound intellectual and multiple disabilitiessensory behaviour

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