Basis and practice of clinical taste examinations

Abstract

Separate taste examinations of each area of gustatory innervation are necessary in clinical practice in treating patients with taste disorders. We have developed our own electrogustometer with a dB scale and qualitative and quantitative clinical gustometry using filter-paper discs (the filter-paper disc method). this paper reports on our main basic studies in this field and new insights and experience gained in connection with the two gustometry procedures. Reference is made to the gustatory pathway, innervation area on the tongue and the soft palate, the argument against the localization theory of taste, the correlation between electrogustometry and the filter-paper disc method, differential diagnosis of taste disorders using both methods and the effective use of these methods in clinical practice. The effective use of both methods of measurements is important to give the physician assurance and confidence in the diagnosis and treatment of taste disorders.