Brief Report: Significant Differences in Perceived Odor Pleasantness Found in Children with ASD

Abstract

The aim of our study was to explore possible differences in estimation of odor pleasantness in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) compared to controls. Thirty-five patients with Asperger's syndrome and high functioning autism (mean age 10.8 ± 3.6 years; 31 boys) were compared with 35 healthy control subjects (mean age 10.4 ± 2.4 years; 28 boys). Odor pleasantness was assessed on a 5-point scale using the Sniffin' Sticks test (Identification part of the test). Patients with ASD, compared to healthy controls, perceived the smell of cinnamon and pineapple as significantly less pleasant (p < 0.05); at the trend level, the same was true of cloves (p < 0.1). The possibility of olfactory dysfunctions as an autism biomarker is discussed.

Comparison of three screening tests for&nbsp;autism in preterm children with birth weights less than 1,500 grams

“…In extensive meta-analysis of sensory modulation symptoms in persons with ASD, different versions of the sensory profile, including ITSP, were found to be the most frequently used methods for measuring sensory processing 35. Unlike M-CHAT and CSBS-DP-ITC, ITSP is not generally used for screening;36 however, early on we concluded that ITSP might be a useful screening tool because autistic children often display unusual behavioral responses to sensory input, such as hypersensitivity to auditory, visual, tactile, and olfactory stimuli 37,38. Our study may be the first to evaluate its use as a screening tool.…”

Emotional Responses to Odors in Children with High-Functioning Autism: Autonomic Arousal, Facial Behavior and Self-Report

“…Hrdlicka et al (2011) also reported differences in evaluation of pleasantness, suggesting that pleasure induced by odors could be attenuated in the case of autism. Rieffe et al (2007) noted deficits among children with HFA in identifying the circumstances in which they or others would experience basic negative emotions (anger, sadness and fear).…”

“…The results revealed that the Asperger’s syndrome children were not impaired at odor detection, indicating that the olfactory perception is intact in this syndrome. The capacity to evaluate the pleasantness of odors was explored recently by Hrdlicka et al (2011) in a group of 35 children with Asperger’s and high-functioning autism. Compared to controls, autistic subjects judged 3 of 16 odors (mainly food odors) as less pleasant, suggesting that the pleasure induced by few odors could be attenuated in the case of autism.…”

Olfactory Detection Thresholds and Adaptation in Adults with Autism Spectrum Condition

“…Olfactory identification was measured using the ''Sniffin Sticks'', which consist of 12 common odours. Recently a study also showed that children with ASC rate some odours (pineapple and cinnamon) as less pleasant than children without ASC (Hrdlicka et al 2011). However identification differences could reflect linguistic/labelling issues, rather than sensory issues per se.…”