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Published on: January 28, 2009
Pediatric olfactory home testing using regular household items: A cross-over validation study
Lawrence Jaramillo1, Andreas van Egmond-Froehlich2, David T Liu1
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
Insights
A new olfactory home test using household items is feasible for children. A German version of the Chemosensory Pleasure Scale for Children (CPS-C(de)) was also successfully introduced.
Area of Science:
- Olfactory research
- Pediatric sensory testing
- Chemosensory perception
Background:
- Olfactory dysfunction can impact children's quality of life.
- Standardized olfactory testing often requires specialized equipment and trained personnel.
- Remote and accessible testing methods are needed for pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a simple, home-based olfactory test for children using common household items.
- To introduce and validate a German version of the Chemosensory Pleasure Scale for Children (CPS-C(de)).
- To assess the feasibility and reliability of remote olfactory assessment in a pediatric cohort.
Main Methods:
- Development and evaluation of fourteen household items for olfactory identification.
- A cross-over study involving 50 children (ages 6-17) using the home test and the Universal Sniff test (U-Sniff) as a gold standard.
- Translation and empirical validation of the Chemosensory Pleasure Scale for Children (CPS-C(de)) through back-and-forth translation.
Main Results:
- All fourteen household items were identified with high accuracy (mean 93.3% ± 9.5%).
- The home olfactory test demonstrated near-identical results to the U-Sniff test (bias = 0.04).
- The CPS-C(de) showed comparable results to its original version, with a moderate negative correlation between scores and children's Body Mass Index (r = -0.527, p = 0.003).
Conclusions:
- Remote olfactory testing in children utilizing readily available household items is a viable method.
- The developed olfactory home test and the validated CPS-C(de) are promising tools for future pediatric olfactory research.
Objective:
To develop an olfactory test that can be conducted by an untrained person using common household items and to introduce a German version of the Chemosensory Pleasure Scale for Children (CPS-C(de)).
Methodology:
This olfactory home test was developed in phases including evaluation of odors for suitability in a home setting. Parents of 50 children (ages 6-17) were then equipped with instruction manuals and participants were tested twice in a cross-over design. A validated pediatric olfactory test (the Universal Sniff test (U-Sniff)) served as the comparative gold standard. Additionally, a Chinese-English-German "back-and-forth" translation was conducted to establish the CPS-C(de) and was tested for empirical validity.
Results:
Fourteen items were tested for feasibility, and all were identified on a sufficient rate (≥66%, mean ± SD of 93.3% ± 9.5%). Bland Altman Plot analysis between home testing and the U-Sniff test was nearly identical (bias = 0.04). CPS-C(de) showed similar results to the original Chinese version and a moderate correlation was found between CPS-C(de) scores and Body Mass Index of children (r30 = -0.527, p = 0.003).
Conclusions:
Remote olfactory testing in children using household items is feasible. The CPS-C(de) may be of value for future olfactory studies.
