| Summary: | The aim of our study was to examine olfactory functions (odor detection thresholds, odor identification and odor preference) and to explore their relationship with psychopathology in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). 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). There were no significant differences between groups with regard to mean age (p = 0,598) and gender proportion (p = 0,324). Olfactory testing (threshold and identification) used the Sniffin' Sticks test. Odor pleasantness was assessed on a 5-point scale using the Identification part of the Sniffin' Sticks test. The severity of autistic psychopathology was measured by the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). Participants with ASD, in comparison with healthy controls, were significantly impaired relative to odor detection thresholds (6,3 ± 3,1 vs. 7,9 ± 2,0; p = 0,025). Autistic participants were significantly better in correctly identifying the odor of an orange (94 vs. 63%; p < 0,05) and significantly worse at correctly identifying the odor of cloves (40 vs. 74%; p < 0,05). With regard to identification of fourteen other substances, there were no significant differences. There...
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