This study was designed to evaluate the reliability of bladder perception in children and compare it with that in adults.

A total of 30 children were included in the study. The average patient age was 11 years (range 7-16). In the first phase of the study, a catheter was fixed to the skin without introducing it through urethra. After the children were told that the test had begun, they were asked to report any sensations. In the second phase, although an 8F urodynamics catheter had been introduced, nothing was infused. In the third phase, regular filling cystometry was performed. The final phase of the study was performed using the same method as for the second phase. The intervals that elapsed until each sensation was perceived were recorded in seconds and were used to compare the perceptions.

Of the 30 children, 4 were excluded because of sensation defects in the cystometric evaluation. In the first phase, none of the children reported any first sensation, first desire, normal desire, or strong desire. In the second phase, 3 of the children reported a first sensation and 2 reported a first desire. In the third phase, all 26 children reported sensations and the first sensation/normal desire percentage was 41% and the first desire/normal desire percentage was 52%. In the fourth phase, none of the children reported sensations.

In our previous studies, we reported that an important percentage of adults perceived false sensations in the fake phases. The children had no significant perceptions in the fake phases (first, second, and fourth phases). Thus, the sensations reported by children during urodynamics studies are more reliable than those reported by adults.