Abstract
Purpose of ReviewOlfactory dysfunction dramatically impairs quality of life with a prevalence of 20% in the general adult population. Psychophysical olfactory testing has been widely used to evaluate the ability to smell due to its validated utility and feasibility in clinic. This review summarizes the current literature regarding psychophysical olfactory testing and the clinical relevance of the olfactory testing with different components. Furthermore, the review highlights the diagnosis and treatment value of olfactory subtests in patients with olfactory dysfunction.Recent FindingsWith the accumulation of studies of psychophysical olfactory testing in olfactory disorders, the clinical relevance of olfactory testing with different components is expanding. Different olfactory domains present with distinct olfactory processing and cortical activity. Psychophysical assessment of olfaction with three domains reveals different levels of olfactory processing and might assist with analyzing the pathophysiologic mechanism of the various olfactory disorders. Furthermore, olfactory thresholds provided the largest amount of non-redundant information to the olfactory diagnosis. Sinonasal olfactory dysfunction and non-sinonasal-related olfactory dysfunction are emerging classifications of smell disorders with certain characteristics of olfactory impairment and different responses to the therapy including steroids, sinus surgery, and olfactory training.SummaryThese recent advancements should promote the understanding of psychophysical olfactory testing, the association between individual subcomponents and neurophysiological processes, and pave the way for precision assessment and treatment of the olfactory dysfunction.
Highlights
Smell is one of the five basic sense which helps us understand and perceive the environment
Olfactory dysfunction dramatically impairs the quality of life with a prevalence of 20% in the general adult population (Whitcroft and Hummel, 2019)
Psychophysical assessment of olfaction with three domains may assist with analyzing the pathophysiologic mechanism of the various olfactory disorders
Summary
Smell is one of the five basic sense which helps us understand and perceive the environment. It has been shown that malnutrition, depression, increased mortality, and neurodegenerative diseases are highly associated with an impaired sense of smell (Smoliner et al, 2013; Kohli et al, 2016b; Doty, 2017; Adams et al, 2018; Liu et al, 2019). A series of etiologies lead to decreased sense of smell and approximately 200 different causes for olfactory dysfunction have been identified (Hummel et al, 2017). Olfactory dysfunction secondary to sinonasal diseases, virus infection, and head trauma account for two-thirds of patients seeking consultation from specialized smell and taste outpatient clinics. Psychophysical olfactory testing has been widely used to evaluate the ability to smell due to its validated utility and feasibility in clinics (Doty, 2006; Rombaux et al, 2009a,c)
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