Study of Olfactory Disturbances with Visual Analogue Scale

Abstract

T & T olfactometry, a standard olfactory acuity test used in Japan, determines detection and recognition thresholds of five odorous substances. The visual analogue scale (VAS) determines subjective olfactory symptoms simply, and is clinically applied in patients with olfactory disturbance. A correlation exists between the VAS score and the T & T olfactometry recognition threshold.
We studied why occasional discrepancies occurred between the VAS score and the average recognition threshold, finding that psychological factors such as stress, occupational considerations, and olfactory preference may influence results and must be taken into account.
It is also important to note that T & T olfactometry used only 5 odorous substances, whereas VAS assessment includes a wide variety of smells a possible factor in the occurrence of discrepancies.