OEI OLFACT™ TEST BATTERY:
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These easy-to-use, computerized, self-administered instruments are employed by both scientists and physicans to assess olfactory function and acuity*. They are designed to assess an individual’s ability to identify and discriminate between odors, and to measure their odor detection threshold and odor memory. The automated interface offers a distinct advantage over older manual legacy systems by reducing administrator time and producing standard reports and graphs for immediate reference. |
Odor Threshold Test:
The odor threshold test measures a person’s ability to detect an odor. Thirteen concentrations of an industry standard odorant are used. The participant smells three samples, two blanks and one with an odorant. They are then asked to determine which of the three samples is the strongest. The concentrations are decreased or increased depending on whether the stimulus is identified correctly.
- Learn more about the OLFACT-RL™ threshold testing instrument
- View a demo of the Odor Threshold Test (coming soon)
Odor Identification Test:
Forty different common odors are presented, one at a time, and the participant is asked to identify them. The participant selects the correct odorant from one of four choices displayed on a computer screen, e.g. cherry, lemon, leather or licorice.
- Learn more about the OLFACT-ID Identification testing instrument
- View a video of the Odor Identification Test (coming soon)
Odor Discrimination Test:
The odor discrimination test determines a person’s ability to differentiate between two odors. The participants are presented with three samples of odorized air (two are the same and one is different). They are then asked to tell which odorant is different.
- Learn more about the OLFACT-ID/D discrimination testing instrument click here.
- View a video of the Odor Discrimination Test (coming soon)
Odor Memory Test:
The odor memory test assesses a person’s ability to remember odors that were previously presented. The test begins with the presentation of 10 odors followed by a 10-minute break. Next, 20 odors containing the 10 original and 10 new odors are presented. After each odor presentation, the participant is asked to identify the odor and to determine if the odor is one of the original odors or a new odor. This provides measures of both semantic and episodic odor memory.
- View a demo of the Odor Threshold Test (coming soon)
Taste Testing:
OEI and Temple University* are collaborating to develop a new unique method for evaluating the sense of taste using taste strips. The taste strips are based on edible food strips like those used for breath fresheners. They are designed to measure various qualities of the five basic taste sensations of sweet, sour, salty, bitter and savory. This product is still under development.
- Learn more about our Taste Strips (coming soon)
- View a demo of the Odor Taste Test (coming soon)
Research Support:
*This research is being supported by Federal Grants #R44 DC006369 and DC007291 from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Division of the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD. http://www.nidcd.nih.gov |
