NCHS-CDC NHIS Taste & Smell Questionnaire Supplement

National Institute On Deafness And Other Communication Disorders

Investigators

Abstract

To provide support to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), CDC for implementation of a nationally representative health interview survey questions inquiring about taste & smell and communication disorders and disabilities of voice, swallowing, speech, and language in both childhood and adults. Communication disabilities, including voice, swallowing, speech, and language disabilities, can profoundly affect a person’s life and health; impacting the ability to work, interact socially and engage during health care encounters. Adults with communication disabilities are at risk for decreased quality of life, health status, and health care services received. Targeted interventions delivered in a community or medical setting, including speech-language pathology services, and occupational support can potentially mitigate these risks. Few current epidemiological studies have explored the prevalence of communication disorders and their associated etiologies in the United States. While voice, swallowing, speech, and language disorders are distinct disabilities with different biological mechanisms, they can all cause a person to have difficulty communicating and thus are collectively referred to as communication disorders. Multiple national surveys, including the American Community Survey (ACS), the Current Population Survey – Annual Social and Economic Supplement (CPS-ASEC), and the Decennial Census of Population and Housing, collect information on the prevalence of disability in the United States, but these surveys do not specifically identify or distinguish between voice, swallowing, speech, and language disorders. Persons with voice, swallowing, speech, and language disorders represent about 10 percent of the US population. Adults with communication disorders have about a two-fold increased risk of also having chronic diseases (hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke, emphysema, asthma, cancer, diabetes, and arthritis). They are also much more likely to report their general health status as “fair/poor” compared to adults without communication disorders. While adults with communication disorders more frequently use healthcare, they have greater difficulty accessing healthcare than those without communication disorders. Communication disorders are treated by speech-language therapists or pathologists, who are specialists trained and licensed to diagnose and treat communication disorders. Because physical, neurological, or psychological conditions are frequently either responsible for or are related to these disorders, the therapist often works as a member of a health care team. Communication disorders caused by disease, injury, or malformation will normally require the services of a physician or surgeon. After medical problems are treated, the speech-language therapist is responsible for helping the patient improve communications ability. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) provide screening, assessment, treatment, consultation and education for voice, speech, language, or swallowing problems in adults. SLPs also treat children who have difficulty understanding or using language, producing speech sounds correctly, feeding/ swallowing, stuttering or voice problems. About 1 in 12 children aged 3 to 17 years in the United States have had voice, speech, and language disorders during the past year. These disorders are often linked to problems with behavior or development. Early evaluation by a speech-language pathologist can help families identify these disorders and get the right treatment for their child. To function in our society, we must be able to communicate effectively. Despite valuable scientific and technological advances, many aspects of modern life remain profoundly difficult for an individual with a voice, swallowing, speech, or language disorder. These disorders often affect a person's emotional and social life and can compromise educational and job or employment opportunities. Taste and Smell - Sample Adult Sponsor: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Concepts to be Measured • Past 12 months, have you had difficulty with sense of smell or ability to detect odors (SMELLDF_A) • Compared to when you were (25 years old / 5 years younger), ability to smell (better, worse, no change) (SMELLCOMP_A) • Past 12 months, smell an unpleasant, bad, metallic, or burning odor when nothing is there (SMELLPHT_A) • Past 12 months, difficulty with your ability to taste sweet, sour, salty, or bitter foods and drinks (TASTEDF_A) • Compared to when you were (25 years old / 5 years younger), ability to taste sweet, sour, salty, or bitter foods and drinks (better, worse, no change) (TASTECOMP_A) • Compared to when you were (25 years old / 5 years younger), ability to taste flavors such as chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry (better, worse, no change) (TASTEFLAV_A) • Past 12 months had an unwanted taste or other sensation in mouth that does not go away (TASTEUNW_A) • Ever discussed any problem with, or a change in your ability to taste or smell, with a doctor or other health professional (TSTSMHP_A) o When the last time was discussed any problem with ability to taste or smell with a doctor or other health professional (TSTSMLAST_A) • Past 12 months, had any of the following, a head cold or flu for longer than a month (COLDFLU12M_A) or persistent dry mouth (DRYMOUTH12M_A) • For those with positive coronavirus diagnosis: Had coronavirus symptoms include losing sense of smell, having distortions, or smelling odors that were not there? (CVDSYMSM_A); Has your sense of smell fully or partially recovered? (CVDSMREC_A); Had coronavirus symptoms include losing ability to taste or having unwanted tastes or sensations in your mouth that did not go away (CVDSYMTST_A); or Has ability to taste fully or partially recovered? (CVDTSTREC_A)