Is electrogustometry useful for screening abnormalities of taste?
BACKGROUND
Electrogustometry is an accurate and increasingly popular method used to examine taste. However, its usefulness as a screening test is unknown.


METHODS
We asked 114 subjects, some healthy but most with medical conditions possibly affecting taste, to rate their overall taste ability, on a scale of zero to 10. Those who had current symptoms related to taste- and who rated their taste as five or worse - were defined as 'aberrant tasters'. We recorded automated electrogustometry thresholds, and visual analogue scale intensity ratings, for solutions of the four basic tastes (sweet, sour, salty and bitter). A visual analogue scale score of 50 was used as a cut-off point to identify 'poor tasters'.


RESULTS
The sensitivity and specificity of electrogustometry in identifying abnormal taste function were low.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that automated electrogustometry is not a useful clinical screening method for taste disturbance in a population such as ours.
Ellegård
E K
EK
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Kungsbacka Hospital, Sweden. eva.ellegard@lthalland.se
Hay
K D
KD
Morton
R P
RP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002110:Caffeine; D019343:Citric Acid; D004568:Electrodiagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D013395:Sucrose; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology
D019343:Citric Acid; D002110:Caffeine; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D013395:Sucrose