The AST is a very
easy to use test of the ability to identify odors presented to one
nostril at a time.
The record forms,
standard instructions for administration and basic test manual are free
of charge to users of the WMT, MSVT or NV-MSVT. Ask for a copy via
drpgreen@telus.net
The stimuli used
are standard scents contained within the scented markers made by
Sanford, USA, called "Mr. Sketch", available from many stores. They can
be found at Amazon.com at this address:-
http://www.amazon.com/Sketch-Scented-Water-Markers-20672/dp/B000F8XIYW/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1250060390&sr=8-4
The AST was found
to be by far the strongest predictor of severity of head injury when
compared with many neuropsychological tests.
Why should this
be so? Because of the anatomy of the skull in the region of the
olfactory cortex (uncus).
To illustrate the
relationship between the uncus and the clinoid processes, the following
diagram was drawn on commission to Dr. Paul Green by Valerie Oxorn,
based on his hypothesis and supported by anatomical research by Dr.
Keith Moore. Dr. Moore is the first author of a major neuroanatomy
textbook called Clinically Oriented Anatomy (Moore and Dalley).
For more details see this link:-http://www.amazon.com/Clinically-Oriented-Anatomy-Keith-Moore/dp/0683061410
As shown in the
references below, it is important to measure effort when testing sense
of smell.
Green, P., Rohling,
M.L, Iverson, G. & Gervais, R. (2003) Relationships between olfactory
discrimination and head injury severity. Brain Injury, 17 (6) 479-496
Green, P. &
Iverson, G.L. (2001)
Effects of injury severity and cognitive
exaggeration on olfactory deficits in head injury compensation claims.
Neurorehabilitation, 16, 237-243
