Acoustic analysis of nasal airflow in normal and abnormal subjects(V2)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Cross-sectional study establishing normal nasal airflow acoustic signature as a surrogate marker for nasal patency, in patients without known nasal disease or subjective nasal blockage, attending ENT outpatient clinics at the Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital. Case-control study to allow comparison of patients with nasal airflow acoustic signals with and without subjective nasal blockage
IRAS ID
170220
Contact name
Peter Andrews
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London Hiospitals NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 8 days
Research summary
There does not exist an objective, patient friendly and quick method for quantifying the severity of nasal blockage, despite its high prevalence in ENT practice and impact on patients’ quality of life. The ideal test would be performed by the physicians themselves, in a very short space of time (around one minute) in the clinic room. This could act as a guide to the need for and type of medical and surgical treatment required for the patient. It would be particularly useful in cases of perceived nasal blockage where no anatomical obstruction exists.
This study aims to establish the measurement of nasal patency, using the noise signature of nasal inhalation and exhalation, using a microphone and software post-processing. The acquisition of preliminary data from normal and abnormal subjects will allow:
1. Technical refinement of the data acquisition hardware and software.
2. Establishment of a normal range of acoustic signal amplitude.
3. Preliminary comparison with patients complaining of decreased nasal patency.
The normal popluation (control group) will comprise general ENT patients attending outpatients for non-rhinological problems and medical students. Recordings of their nasal acoustic signature will be taken on one occasion.
The other group will comprise patients attending outpatients with rhinological symptoms. They will be tested before and after treatment. Changes in the acoustic signature will be recorded.
Subjects will also be asked to perform a number of objective tests of nasal patency and fill in questionnaires asking about their level of obstruction. They will have a full rhinological examination which will provide a subjective clinician rating of obstruction and they will undergo subjective testing of their sense of smell.
As well as developing a test of nasal patency that correlates with patients’ symptoms we also hope to be able to determine the site of obstruction based on the acoustic signature.REC name
London - City & East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/0187
Date of REC Opinion
21 Mar 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion