Position paper on olfactory dysfunction

Abstract

We hope the current manuscript will encourage clinicians and researchers to adopt a common language, and in so doing, increase the methodological quality, consistency and generalisability of work in this field.

Updated Sniffin’ Sticks normative data based on an extended sample of 9139 subjects

“…Current data indicated the most pronounced loss in olfactory threshold, whereas olfactory discrimination and identification are, for one, tested with suprathreshold concentrations of odors and are, in addition, largely determined by individual experience and conscious cognitive processes which decrease at a slower pace over time. The pronounced decrease of odor thresholds with age supports the idea that it represents damage to the periphery of the olfactory system to a stronger degree than diminished odor identification and discrimination which are more strongly related to higher cognitive processes (for discussion see: [19–21]).…”

Olfactory and middle meatal cytokine levels correlate with olfactory function in chronic rhinosinusitis

“…It is also a major contributor to poor quality of life and reduced productivity in this patient population . Despite the common association between CRS and loss of smell, very little is known about the mechanisms that mediate CRS‐specific olfactory dysfunction . Most evidence suggests that hyposmia or anosmia in CRS patients is due to a combination of conductive olfactory loss and sensorineural olfactory loss.…”

Olfactory dysfunction revisited: a reappraisal of work-related olfactory dysfunction caused by chemicals

“…Comparison between the study results is rendered more difficult by differences between the test methods employed. Olfactory self-assessment tends to be unreliable and it has been shown that people do not perform well when compared with psychophysical testing [6]. …”

“…Assessment of olfactory function and diagnosis of olfactory dysfunction requires, firstly, a detailed medical history and examination by an otolaryngologist [5, 6]. The medical history should include information on the triggering events, development, complementary symptoms, surgical operations, medication and toxicants.…”

“…The use of an electro-olfactograph (the recording of generator potential via an electrode in contact with the olfactory epithelium) is limited to research. Olfactory functional imaging methods such as PET (positron emission tomography) and fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) are also largely limited to research applications [5, 6]. …”