Nasal sound analysis: a new method for evaluating nasal obstruction in allergic rhinitis.
OBJECTIVE
Current measurements of nasal obstruction are unreliable and may be improved with the development of new techniques. The effectiveness of odiosoft-rhino (OR) in the evaluation of nasal obstruction was investigated in a blind comparison at a referral center, institutional practice.


METHODS
Forty-eight patients with perennial allergic rhinitis and 52 healthy subjects were studied. Nasal endoscopic examination, acoustic rhinometry (AR), and OR were performed and symptom scores compared.


METHODS
Assessment of nasal blockage with OR method was the main outcome measure.


RESULTS
Using the OR technique, significant differences were observed between the patient and control groups. OR data correlated with symptom scores and endoscopic examination. However, this was not observed with AR. A 15.5-dB cutoff point for the left side and 14.5 dB cutoff point for the right side at the 2,000 to 4,000 Hz frequency interval resulted in 93.8% sensitivity and 92.3% specificity and 72.9% sensitivity and 80.8% specificity, respectively. A 8.5-dB cutoff point for the left and right sides at the 4,000 to 6,000 Hz frequency interval resulted in 87.5% sensitivity and 80.8% specificity and 70.8% sensitivity and 78.8% specificity, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
OR is a simple, noninvasive test for assessing nasal obstruction. The OR technique can detect nasal obstruction with high sensitivity and specificity, and these findings correlate with symptoms and physical examination.
Tahamiler
Rauf
R
Otorhinolaryngology Department, Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul, Turkey. tahamiler@gmail.com
Edizer
Deniz Tuna
DT
Canakcioglu
Salih
S
Guvenc
Melih Guven
MG
Inci
Ender
E
Dirican
Ahmet
A
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; D012372:ROC Curve; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000150:complications*; D023842:Rhinometry, Acoustic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D014420:Turbinates / Q000473:pathology
C021908:opacity factor; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases