title: Expiratory nasal sound analysis as a new method for evaluation of nasal obstruction in patients with nasal septal deviation: comparison of expiratory nasal sounds from both deviated and normal nasal cavity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The reliability of nasal obstruction measurements could be improved, and several new techniques are being developed. Our objective was to investigate the use of a new software program, Odiosoft-Rhino, in the assessment of nasal obstruction via analysis of the sounds of nasal expiration.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared the nasal symptom scores and Odiosoft-Rhino and acoustic rhinometry test results for 61 patients with known nasal septal deviation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a significant difference, and a correlation, between Odiosoft-Rhino results at 2000-4000 Hz and 4000-6000 Hz intervals, and the minimal cross-sectional area 2.2 cm from the nostril, in the right nasal cavity in patients with right-sided deviations. Similar results were observed for the left nasal cavity in patients with left-sided deviations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Odiosoft-Rhino software test is noninvasive, requires minimal cooperation and experience, and provides results that can be saved as digital data. Additionally, data from the Odiosoft-Rhino test are strongly correlated with acoustic rhinometry results and visual analogue scores of nasal obstruction. It seems that sound intensity within the 2000-4000 Hz and 4000-6000 Hz intervals is more sensitive than other sound intensity intervals. Thus, we speculate that Odiosoft-Rhino testing could be used as a new diagnostic method in order to evaluate nasal airflow in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Cerrahpasa Medicine School, Istanbul University, Turkey. tahamiler@gmail.com
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tahamiler
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Canakcioglu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dirican
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000002:abnormalities; D023842:Rhinometry, Acoustic / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography