European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology· 2026Q1
Global practices in paediatric olfactory dysfunction: a cross-sectional survey of paediatric ENT surgeons
- 0citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Most paediatric ENT surgeons (83%) see children with olfactory dysfunction (OD), but 95% see fewer than ten annually, and 54.8% never use psychophysical testing, relying instead on imaging (88.4%).
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Key points
- 83% of surveyed paediatric ENT surgeons see children with olfactory dysfunction (OD), but 95% see fewer than 10 such patients annually.
- 54.8% of surgeons never perform psychophysical testing for OD, while 88.4% routinely order cross-sectional imaging.
- Insufficient training (44.3%), time constraints (29.9%), and funding limitations (28.1%) are the primary barriers to objective OD testing.
- Multidisciplinary collaboration in paediatric OD care is negligible, with significant regional variations in practice.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Abstract Background Olfactory dysfunction (OD) in children remains underdiagnosed and poorly characterised. Despite its known impacts on nutrition, quality of life, safety awareness, and psychosocial development, no standardised diagnostic or management pathway currently exists for paediatric OD. This study aimed to characterise global practice patterns and identify diagnostic and therapeutic challenges unique to paediatric care. Methodology/Principal A 44-item cross-sectional online survey was distributed to a verified international network of paediatric otolaryngologists across 36 countries via a closed professional platform. The survey assessed five domains: diagnostic practices, management protocols, technology and innovation, education and training, and barriers to effective care. Regional grouping was used to facilitate meaningful statistical comparisons. Categorical variables were evaluated using chi-square tests, with odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals reported for significant findings. Results Of 351 potential participants, 167 responded (47.6% response rate). Most respondents (83%) reported seeing children with OD, yet 95% saw fewer than ten such patients annually. Psychophysical testing was never performed by 54.8% of respondents, while 88.4% routinely ordered cross-sectional imaging. Testing frequency increased significantly with patient age (Cochran’s Q p < .001). The most common barriers to objective testing were insufficient training (44.3%), time constraints (29.9%), and funding limitations (28.1%). Multidisciplinary collaboration was negligible. Significant regional variation was observed across most practice domains. Conclusions Paediatric OD care is characterised by functional underinvestigation, fragmented multidisciplinary collaboration, and systemic educational gaps. These findings support urgent development of standardised clinical guidelines, age-appropriate validated assessment tools, and formal interdisciplinary care pathways.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Sensory Systems
Sensory SystemsNeuroscience