Numerous publications deal with the relationship between the objectively measured flow resistance of the nose and its subjective sensation. Only in exceptional cases was Weber-Fechner's law on the logarithmic relationship between stimulus and sensation used. 4-phase rhinomanometry takes this relationship into account. It is not clear in which range such sensations can be perceived at all.
For this reason, a simple simulator has been produced, with which one breathes successively through holes of different sizes in a 3.5 mm thick perforated strip. It is determined whether the difference is perceived with certainty, “perhaps” or not at all. The range from 3.5 to 8.5 mm in diameter corresponds to all the nasal resistances that we were able to clinically classify in 36,500 measurements when measuring patients.
It has been shown that differences between holes in the 3-6 mm diameter range are still perceived well, but that reliable differences are not perceived at larger diameters. This can play an important role for the surgical indication.
A statistically relevant number of investigations is still ongoing.