Odor detection threshold, but not odor identification, is impaired in children with autism
Open accessAbstract
The aim of our study was to examine odor detection thresholds and odor identification in autistic subjects. Thirty-five patients with Asperger's syndrome and high functioning autism (mean age 10.8 ± 3.6 years; 31 boys) were compared with 35 healthy control subjects (mean age 10.4 ± 2.4 years; 28 boys). There were no significant differences between groups with regard to mean age (p = 0.598) and gender proportion (p = 0.324). Olfactory testing used the Sniffin' Sticks test (threshold and identification parts only). Participants with Asperger's syndrome and high functioning autism, in comparison with healthy controls, were significantly impaired relative to odor detection thresholds (6.3 ± 3.1 vs. 7.9 ± 2.0; p = 0.025). Autistic participants were significantly better in correctly identifying the odor of an orange (94 vs. 63%; p < 0.05) and significantly worse at correctly identifying the odor of cloves (40 vs. 74%; p < 0.05). With regard to identification of fourteen other substances, there were no significant differences. There was no significant difference between autistic and control subjects on the total score of olfactory identification (p = 0.799). Odor identification ability (as expressed by this total score) correlated significantly with age in the control group (p = 0.049), but not in the autism group (p = 0.103). We found impaired odor detection and almost normal odor identification in children with autism. Implications for further research are discussed.
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Both processes make feeding difficult, and can lead to propitiating alterations in the feeding of children with ASD.
“Both processes make feeding difficult, and can lead to propitiating alterations in the feeding of children with ASD [48].”
From Food Selectivity and Its Implications Associated with Gastrointestinal Disorders in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (2022) · cites this paper as [48]
The clinical study by Dudova et al. (2011) identifies that children with ASD have a lower olfactory capacity than NT children, indicating a lower sensitivity and food identification in children with ASD.
“The clinical study by Dudova et al. (2011) identifies that children with ASD have a lower olfactory capacity than NT children, indicating a lower sensitivity and food identification in children with ASD [49].”
From Food Selectivity and Its Implications Associated with Gastrointestinal Disorders in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (2022) · cites this paper as Dudova et al. (2011)
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References 43 · Cited by 95
- Authors
- Dudova, I., Vodicka, J., Havlovicova, M., Sedlacek, Z., Urbanek, T., & Hrdlicka, M.
- Venue
- European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
- Published
- 2011-04-29
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 333-340
- ISSN
- 1018-8827 (ISSN-L)
- 1435-165X
- OpenAlex
- W1975750670
- Cited by
- 95
- References
- 43
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 3.44
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hal.science
- Licence
- other-oa
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- HAL (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- ASEP (submittedVersion, public-domain)
- Trinity's Access to Research Output (TARA) (Trinity College Dublin) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Advanced Chemical Sensor Technologies
- Keywords
- autism spectrum disorder, Asperger syndrome, odor detection threshold, odor identification, olfaction, children, Sniffin' Sticks, olfactory dysfunction
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Age Factors, Olfaction Disorders, Autistic Disorder, Child, Female, Humans, Male, Odorants, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Research Design, Sensory Thresholds, Severity of Illness Index, Smell, Patient Selection, Asperger Syndrome, Olfactory Perception
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