Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol (2010) 267:1911–1917 DOI 10.1007/s00405-010-1276-1 123 HEAD AND NECK Normative data for a solution-based taste test Janine Pingel · Jürgen Ostwald · Hans Wilhelm Pau · Thomas Hummel · Tino Just Received: 31 January 2010 / Accepted: 5 May 2010 / Published online: 22 May 2010  Springer-Verlag 2010 Abstract The aim of our study was to study gustatory function in a large portion of the general population using liquid tastants, extending previous research. Fur- ther, we investigated the test–retest reliability of the test used. Data from 944 healthy subjects were used (498 women and 446 men, mean age 45 years; age range 5–90 years). For lateralized assessment of gustatory function, liquid taste solutions were used with diVerent concentrations of each tastant (sweet 0.03, 0.1, 0.4, 2 g/mL sucrose solution; sour 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15 mL citric acid; salty 0.025, 0.075, 0.15, 0.36 mL sodium chloride solution; bitter 0.0002, 0.0005, 0.001, 0.01 mL quinine hydrochloride). A drop (approximately 20 L) of liquid tastant was applied on the right side or on the left side of the anterior/posterior third of the extended tongue. The taste test had a good test–retest reliability r 304 = 0.78 (P < 0.001) for the total score and r 304 = 0.77 (P < 0.001) for the right-sided measures and r 304 = 0.75 (P < 0.001) for the left-sided measures, respectively. Gustatory sensitivity was found to decrease with age; women were more sensitive to gustatory stimuli than men. Irrespective of the sex-related diVerences, the total score at the 10th percentile was 28 in subjects younger than 15 years, 26.1 for ages from 16 to 35 years, 25 for ages from 36 to 55 years, and 24 for subjects older than 56 years of age. In conclusion, this test is recommended for clinical assessment of the ability to taste. The test provides reliable data, which is easy to handle, inexpen- sive, timesaving and can be self-made. Keywords Gustatory sensitivity · Taste · Mouth · Regional taste test Introduction Among the regional taste tests, two diVerent approaches are known. The application of electric current is used to detect electric thresholds on the tongue tip, tongue edge, or the soft palate [11, 17]. In addition, tests based on the chemical stimuli are frequently applied using a variety of systems, e.g. Wlter paper discs [18], taste tablets [2], cotton swabs [3], edible wafers [8], taste strips [12, 14], or liquids [7, 13]. Since more than 30 years, a regional taste test based on the liquid solutions has been used at the Department of ORL in Rostock. This gustatory test was Wrst introduced by the working group “Olfactology and Gustology” [1]. The application of a drop of tastant at the anterior/posterior part of the tongue allowed for regional testing. In general, regional taste tests have some advantages over whole mouth taste tests. Regional tests allow detection of gusta- tory blind regions on the tongue. For example, using the taste test mentioned, a decrease in gustatory sensibility was established in patients after chorda tympani nerve (CTN) transection [9]. The aim of this study was to get an impression on taste deWcits in the general population, obtain normative data, evaluate the test–retest reliability, and to assess sensory J. Pingel · J. Ostwald · H. W. Pau · T. Just (&) Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Rostock, Doberaner Strasse 137-139, 18057 Rostock, Germany e-mail: tino.just@med.uni-rostock.de T. Hummel Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Dresden University of Technology Medical School, Dresden, Germany