[An evaluation of the usefulness of impulse-current stimulation in electrogustometry--preliminary report].

UNLABELLED

Electrogustometry is a simple and fast method of quantitative taste examination. The direct-current monopolar stimulating equipment was most frequently used until now. Aim of the study was to evaluate usefulness of the new method based on bipolar stimulation with impulse-current Furthermore, the authors wanted to determine taste thresholds using the equipment.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

50 healthy volunteers (25 women and 25 men) in the age of 17-50 were involved. The volunteers had a careful otolaryngological examination. Then the taste thresholds for each quarter of tongue were determined using the new equipment. Additionally, ten of the group of volunteers was examined in accordance to repetition time values.

RESULTS

the determined values showed symmetry of taste thresholds, among the range of 4.9-26 microA for anterior 2/3 of the tongue and 41.5-93 microA for the 1/3 posterior. The examination with consideration to repetition time did not show increase of taste threshold after ten minutes stimulation.

CONCLUSIONS

in conclusion the new kind of electrogustometry is precision and repeatable taste diagnostic method. Moreover the way of stimulation does not cause the phenomena of fatigue and adaptation.