Screening for olfactory dysfunction following head injury
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Screening for olfactory dysfunction following head injury
IRAS ID
250192
Contact name
Carl Philpott
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of East Anglia
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 13 days
Research summary
Head injury is a common mechanism of smell dysfunction. Loss of sense of smell may impair the ability to recognise danger (e.g. smoke, spoiled food, gas) and is associated with an increased likelihood of cognitive and psychiatric symptoms. Early detection is therefore important. Unfortunately loss of sense of smell after head injury often goes unrecognised resulting in no or late treatment; if intervention is to be contemplated, earlier intervention is better.
This study will be based in the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and James Paget University Hospital (JPUH). Patients sustaining a head injury aged 18 or over attending A&E will be included. Outcome measures include a smell identification test, a questionnaire rating smell before and after injury and first recorded glasgow coma score post head injury. Patients with smell deficits will be followed up at The Smell and Taste clinic at the JPUH.
The percentage of patients that suffer loss of smell after head injury shall be measured. A comparison between those who report a loss of smell and those who score on smell testing as having a deficit shall be made. From the results an assessment could be made whether there is a role for formal screening in patients following head injury for loss of smell function.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 3
REC reference
18/WS/0213
Date of REC Opinion
23 Nov 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion