Use of olfactory training in post-traumatic and postinfectious olfactory dysfunction.
Title | Use of olfactory training in post-traumatic and postinfectious olfactory dysfunction. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2013 |
Authors | Konstantinidis, I., Tsakiropoulou E., Bekiaridou P., Kazantzidou C., & Constantinidis J. |
Journal | Laryngoscope |
Volume | 123 |
Issue | 12 |
Pagination | E85-90 |
Date Published | 2013 Dec |
ISSN | 1531-4995 |
Keywords | Adult, Craniocerebral Trauma, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Odors, Olfaction Disorders, Prospective Studies, Psychotherapeutic Processes, Recovery of Function, Respiratory Tract Infections, Sensory Thresholds, Smell, Treatment Outcome |
Abstract | OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: There is evidence that the olfactory system can be modulated by repeated exposure to odors, a procedure called olfactory training. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of olfactory training in patients with postinfectious and post-traumatic olfactory dysfunction.STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study of 119 patients with postinfectious and post-traumatic olfactory dysfunction.METHODS: Two groups of patients (postinfectious and post-traumatic) performed the olfactory training (n = 49 and n = 23, respectively) over a period of 16 weeks and were compared with two control groups of the same etiology (n = 32 and n = 15). Patients with sinunasal, neurologic, or idiopathic disease were excluded. Training was performed twice daily with the use of four odors (phenyl ethyl alcohol [rose], eucalyptol [eucalyptus], citronellal [lemon], and eugenol [cloves]). Olfactory testing was performed by means of the Sniffin' Sticks test battery (threshold, discrimination, identification) at the time of diagnosis, and 8 and 16 weeks later. All patients evaluated their olfactory function by means of a visual analogue scale (0-100).RESULTS: Compared to controls, training patients in both groups presented significantly higher scores of olfactory function as measured by the Sniffin' Sticks test. This increase was measured in 67.8% of postinfectious and 33.2% of post-traumatic patients. Subjective ratings were in accordance with the olfactory test results. Subset analysis showed that olfactory function mainly increased olfactory identification followed by discrimination in both training groups.CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that a 16-week short-term exposure to specific odors may increase olfactory sensitivity in patients with postinfectious and post-traumatic olfactory dysfunction. |
DOI | 10.1002/lary.24390 |
Alternate Journal | Laryngoscope |
PubMed ID | 24114690 |