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Normative data for the “Sniffin’ Sticks” including tests of odor identification, odor discrimination, and olfactory thresholds: an upgrade based on a group of more than 3,000 subjects

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology volume 264, pages 237–243 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

“Sniffin’ Sticks” is a test of nasal chemosensory function that is based on pen-like odor dispensing devices, introduced some 10 years ago by Kobal and co-workers. It consists of tests for odor threshold, discrimination, and identification. Previous work established its test-retest reliability and validity. Results of the test are presented as “TDI score”, the sum of results obtained for threshold, discrimination, and identification measures. While normative data have been established they are based on a relatively small number of subjects, especially with regard to subjects older than 55 years where data from only 30 healthy subjects have been used. The present study aimed to remedy this situation. Now data are available from 3,282 subjects as compared to data from 738 subjects published previously. Disregarding sex-related differences, the TDI score at the tenth percentile was 24.9 in subjects younger than 15 years, 30.3 for ages from 16 to 35 years, 27.3 for ages from 36 to 55 years, and 19.6 for subjects older than 55 years. Because the tenth percentile has been defined to separate hyposmia from normosmia, these data can be used as a guide to estimate individual olfactory ability in relation to subject’s age. Absolute hyposmia was defined as the tenth percentile score of 16–35 year old subjects. Other than previous reports the present norms are also sex-differentiated with women outperforming men in the three olfactory tests. Further, the present data suggest specific changes of individual olfactory functions in relation to age, with odor thresholds declining most dramatically compared to odor discrimination and odor identification.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are indebted to the following individuals, all of whom provided data to the present article: Prof. G. Broich (Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of the Milano, 20122 Milano, Italy), Dr. A. Welge-Luessen, Dr. I. Schnieper (Department of ORL, University of Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland), Dr. P.A. Federspill P.A. (Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of the Saarland, 66421 Homburg, Germany), Dr. M. Damm (Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Cologne, 50924 Cologne, Germany), Dr. B. Hauswald (Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany), O. Opatz (University of Erlangen-Nürnberg Medical School, 91054 Erlangen, Germany), R. Albrecht (Department of Pharmacology, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany), A. Soiffer (Smell and Taste Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA), Dr. S.R. Wolf (Department of ORL, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany), Prof. L. Klimek (Department of ORL, University of Mannheim, 55101 Mainz, Germany), Prof. M. Wolfensberger (Department of ORL, University of Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland), Prof. A. Temmel (Department of ORL, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria), Dr. C. M. Owen (School of Biophysical Sciences and Electrical Engineering, Swinburne University of Technology, 3122 Hawthorn, Australia), Prof. H. Seeber (Clinic of ORL, 06847 Dessau, Germany), Dr. E. Pauli (Department of Neurology, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany). Also, the helpful comments of Dr. J. Patterson (Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Australia) were greatly appreciated. This research was partly supported by DFG grant Ko812/5-1, Germany (Dr. G. Kobal), and grant P01 DC 00161 from the United States National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, USA (Dr. R.L. Doty). This research was partly supported by a grant from the Garnett Passe and Rodney Williams Memorial Foundation, Australia (to Dr. A. Mackay-Sim).

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Affiliations

  1. Smell & Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Dresden Medical School, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany

    T. Hummel

  2. Department of Pharmacology, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany

    G. Kobal

  3. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Jena, Jena, Germany

    H. Gudziol

  4. Eskitis Institute for Cell and Molecular Therapies, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, 4111, Australia

    A. Mackay-Sim

Authors
  1. T. Hummel
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  2. G. Kobal
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  3. H. Gudziol
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  4. A. Mackay-Sim
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Correspondence to T. Hummel.

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Hummel, T., Kobal, G., Gudziol, H. et al. Normative data for the “Sniffin’ Sticks” including tests of odor identification, odor discrimination, and olfactory thresholds: an upgrade based on a group of more than 3,000 subjects. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 264, 237–243 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-006-0173-0

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Keywords

  • Olfaction
  • Smell
  • Identification
  • Discrimination
  • Threshold