How to assess olfactory performance with the Sniffin’ Sticks test ®

• DOI: 10.1016/j.anorl.2015.08.004
• Publication Date: 2015-09-04T12:14:27Z
• Authors: C. Rumeau; D.T. Nguyen; R. Jankowski
• Keywords: Smell; Olfaction Disorders; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Reference Values; Sensory Thresholds; Humans

The Sniffin' Sticks test (Burghardt(®), Wedel, Germany) is a psychophysical test developed by Hummel in 1997 and validated in several European countries. It allows semi-objective assessment of the patient's olfactory performance by means of 3subtests: threshold test, identification test and discrimination test. Although it is difficult to perform the test completely and systematically in routine clinical practice, it is one of the essential tools to assess an individual's olfactory performances and to monitor the course of these performances as a function of physiological (ageing) or pathological events. The purpose of this article is to explain the technical modalities of the Sniffin' Sticks test and to discuss possible adaptations of this test.