Abstract
We have already reported the suitability of the Odor Stick Identification Test for the Japanese (OSIT-J) in patients suffering from an olfactory disturbance. In the present study, we studied whether the suitability of the OSIT-J is affected by aging and we can use the OSIT-J as an olfactory detection test. In 191 patients with olfactory disturbances, ranging in age from 12 to 85 years, aging never reduced statistically significant correlation coefficients between the odor identification rate on the OSIT-J and the recognition threshold on the Japanese standardized olfactory test (T & T olfactometry) or the grade of their symptom scores. The OSIT-J prepared a choice of “odorless” in the list for describing odors, so we considered that the patient could at least detect odors when they chose either of the correct answer, incorrect answer (s) or “detectable but not recognizable”, regardless of their success in the odor identification. The odor detection rate on the OSIT-J strongly correlated with the detection threshold on T & T olfactometry. The degree of separation between olfactory detection and recognition rates on the OSIT-J significantly correlated with that between olfactory detection and recognition thresholds on T & T olfactometry. In conclusion, the OSIT-J is applicable regardless of aging and has the capacity to point out separation between olfactory detection and recognition abilities.
