J Rhinol.  2022 Jul;29(2):61-68. 10.18787/jr.2021.00379.

The YSK Olfactory Function Test: Development of a New Korean Olfactory Test

• Cho HJ
• Ha JG
• Kim CH

• KMID: 2532006
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.18787/jr.2021.00379

Abstract

Olfaction is an important aspect of quality of life, beyond simply smelling food and recognizing danger. Recently, research has focused on its association with various diseases, such as neurodegenerative diseases or viral infections. The evaluation of olfactory function must take into consideration the cultural experience of the target group. A new Korean culturefriendly olfactory function test, the YSK olfactory function test (YOF test, Kimex Co.), uses safe odorants, such as phenyl-ethyl alcohol (PEA) (not n-butanol), for the threshold test. Furthermore, odorants in the YOF identification test reflect each of eight major chemical functional groups. The diagnostic cut-off for anosmia was a Threshold Discrimination Identification (TDI) score of ≤14.5 and that for hyposmia was 14.5

Keyword

Smell; Culture; Odorants

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 YSK olfactory function test kit. A: Exterior photo of the YSK kit. B: A testing pen that contains an odorant. When the lid is opened, the subject can smell the scent. C. The actual evaluation is being carried out under a well-ventilated hood.

• 

  Fig. 2 Example of scoring for YOF threshold test. The lowest concentration (level 12) goes up by two levels until patient gets the correct answer. If patient gets the right answer twice in a row (red double O), this becomes the first turning point and the concentration goes down one level. If patient gets the correct answer twice in a row (red double O), it goes down one level, and if patient gets the answer wrong even once (red O X or single X), this is the second turning point. In this way, finding the odd-numbered (1, 3, 5, 7, etc.) level of pen, the turning point goes up by two levels until the answer is correct twice in a row. When looking for even-numbered (2, 4, 6, etc.) turning points, go down one level until the answer is wrong. The average score of the last four turning points (in gray box) out of a total of seven turning points becomes the olfactory threshold score. The red double O symbol denotes the turning point going down. The red O X or single X symbol denotes turning point going up. YOF, YSK olfactory function.

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  Fig. 3 Comparison of the score ratio (0 to 1, test score/score scale) between the YOF test and the KVSS-II test for the normosmia group. In the YOF and KVSS-II tests, the TDI, threshold, and discrimination scores showed a relatively similar distribution. The identification score showed a remarkably high trend in the YOF test. ***p<0.001. KVSS, Korean version of Sniffin’ Stick; YOF, YSK olfactory function; TDI, Threshold Discrimination Identification. Adapted from Ha et al. Clin Exp Otorhinolaryngol 2020;13(3):274–84 [9].

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