The Viennese olfactory test battery - A new method for assessing human olfactory functions

In German-speaking countries no generally accepted clinical test for the as sessment of olfactory functions is available. The aim of the present report was to,study the reliability and validity of the newly developed,,Wiener O lfaktorische Testbatterie (WOTB)". The WOTB is a multiple-choice testing pr ocedure to evaluate olfactory identification ability using common natural o dorants. 96 healthy controls in the age bracket between 18 and 92 years wer e included in the study. The WOTB was shown to be highly sensitive for age- related odour identification decline. Additionally, patients with Alzheimer 's Disease, Parkinsons's Disease and cerebral trauma showed a significantly reduced olfactory identification performance. The internal validility (alp ha = 0.71) and the test-retest reliability r=0.75 were satisfactory. Hence, the WOTB is a new clinical test for assessing olfactory functions.