Use of olfactory training in post‐traumatic and postinfectious olfactory dysfunction

• DOI: 10.1002/lary.24390
• Publication Date: 2013-10-11T21:45:10Z
• Authors: Iordanis Konstant...; Evangelia Tsakiro...; Paschalia Bekiaridou; Chrysa Kazantzidou; Jannis Constantin...
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Psychotherapeutic Processes; Recovery of Function; Middle Aged; 3. Good health; Smell; Olfaction Disorders; 03 medical and health sciences; Treatment Outcome; 0302 clinical medicine; Sensory Thresholds; Odorants; Craniocerebral Trauma; Humans; Female; Prospective Studies; Respiratory Tract Infections; Follow-Up Studies

Objectives/Hypothesis There is evidence that the olfactory system can be modulated by repeated exposure to odors, a procedure called training . The aim of this study was assess effectiveness in patients with postinfectious and post‐traumatic dysfunction. Study Design Prospective 119 Methods Two groups (postinfectious post‐traumatic) performed (n = 49 n 23, respectively) over period 16 weeks were compared two control same etiology 32 15). Patients sinunasal, neurologic, or idiopathic disease excluded. Training twice daily use four odors (phenyl ethyl alcohol [rose], eucalyptol [eucalyptus], citronellal [lemon], eugenol [cloves]). Olfactory testing means Sniffin' Sticks test battery (threshold, discrimination, identification) at time diagnosis, 8 later. All evaluated their function visual analogue scale (0–100). Results Compared controls, both presented significantly higher scores as measured test. This increase 67.8% 33.2% patients. Subjective ratings accordance results. Subset analysis showed mainly increased identification followed discrimination groups. Conclusions present suggests 16‐week short‐term specific may sensitivity Level Evidence 3b. Laryngoscope , 123:E85–E90, 2013