Comparison of subjective olfaction ratings in patients with and without olfactory disorders

AbstractObjective:Olfactory dysfunction is common. The reliability of self-assessment tools for smell testing is still controversial. This study aimed to provide new data about the accuracy of olfactory self-assessment compared with a standardised smell test.Design:Prospective, controlled, cohort study of patients with olfactory disorders and healthy controls.Subjects:Ninety-six patients with a smell deficit and 71 controls were asked to rate their sense of smell on a visual analogue scale. Their olfactory abilities were also evaluated with the Sniffin' Sticks tests.Results:The whole cohort showed a significant correlation between visual analogue scale smell scores and Sniffin' Sticks total…