Development of an Odor Identification Test Kit for Thai Children

Objective: To develop and validate an odor identification test kit for Thai children that can be adapted for use in Southeast Asian countries. Materials and Methods: The test kit was developed in three phases, using local fresh substances. Phase 1 involved designing the test kit and selecting odorants from a pool of 17. Phase 2 focused on test validation in normal subjects, assignment of smell scores, and assessment of test-retest reliability. Phase 3 validated the test in children with subjective olfactory dysfunction and children with repaired cleft palate. Cut-off scores were determined using receiver operating curve analysis. Results: The participants were children aged 5-12 years. Sample sizes in Phases 1, 2, and 3 were 53, 31, and 36, respectively. Seven odorants that met the selection criteria were chosen. The average score for normal subjects was 6.7 (SD 0.7), with a significant difference between age groups (p = 0.036). Children with olfactory dysfunction had an average score of 3.8 (SD 1.6), significantly lower than normal children (p < 0.001). Children with repaired cleft palate showed no significant difference in smell scores compared to normal subjects. A cut-off score of 5.5 points was used to distinguish between normal and abnormal olfactory function, with an area under the curve of 0.928. Conclusion: Children aged 5-12 years were able to complete the 7-item odor identification test developed from local fresh substances. The test kit demonstrated good reliability and effectively distinguished between children with and without smell loss, using a cut-off score of 5.5.