Development and validation of odour identification tests for olfactory assessment in Singapore.
10.47102/annals-acadmedsg.2024364
- Author:
Xinni XU
1
;
Margaret Ru Xiang ZHANG
1
;
Terese Huiying LOW
1
;
Yew Kwang ONG
1
Author Information
1. Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, National University Hospital, Singapore.
- Publication Type:Validation Study
- Keywords:
Sniffin’ Sticks;
odour identification;
olfaction;
olfactory assessment;
otorhinolaryngology
- MeSH:
Humans;
Singapore;
Male;
Female;
Odorants/analysis*;
Middle Aged;
Prospective Studies;
Olfaction Disorders/diagnosis*;
Adult;
Reproducibility of Results;
Aged;
Smell/physiology*;
Young Adult
- From:Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore
2025;54(6):329-339
- CountrySingapore
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
INTRODUCTION:Odour recognition is influenced by culture. Odour identification tests need to be adapted to a population to accurately assess olfactory function. This study's objectives were to validate the Singapore version of the Sniffin' Sticks (SS-Sg) and a locally-developed odour recognition test (Scentsor) for Singapore.
METHOD:This prospective study was performed in 3 otolaryngology outpatient clinics in 3 phases (1 May to 15 November 2024). Phase 1 was a survey evaluation of 93 odour descriptors to identify familiar odour descriptors to be used in the tests (n=414); Phase 2 evaluated and finalised SS-Sg and Scentsor to ensure test odours were recognised by ≥75% of healthy controls (n=130); and Phase 3 validated both tests on healthy controls (n=473) to obtain normative data, to determine test-retest reliability (n=50), and to assess the ability to distinguish patients with olfactory loss (n=67).
RESULTS:In Phase 1, the unmodified SS blue and purple sets had 15/32 (46.9%) unfamiliar test odours and 25 unfamiliar distractors combined. In Phase 2, after modification, all odours in SS-Sg and Scentsor were correctly identified by ≥75% of controls. In Phase 3, normative data (age 21-83 years) was obtained. Both tests had good test-retest reliability (Pearson's correlation coefficient of 0.88 with<0.001 for SS-Sg; and at 0.90 with<0.001 for Scentsor). Both tests differentiated among normosmia, hyposmia and anosmia (SS-Sg scores: 12.6 [±2.4] versus [vs] 9.8 (±3.2) vs 6.0 [±2.3] respectively,<0.001; Scentsor scores: 14.3 [±1.8] vs 11.3 [±2.8] vs 5.8 [±3.4] respectively,<0.001).
CONCLUSION:SS-Sg and Scentsor have been validated to assess olfaction in Singapore.
