The Asthma Risk Grid: clinical interpretation of symptom perception.

The ability to perceive accurately the onset and intensity of asthma symptoms is a cornerstone of effective asthma management. Research in pediatric and adult asthma patients has shown the important role of symptom perception in asthma management, morbidity, and mortality. Assessment of symptom perception ability has largely remained an empiric methodology rather than an applied clinical tool. The Asthma Risk Grid represents a clinical application of symptom perception measurement, and pediatric cases are described as clinical examples. Clinical and research applications of the Asthma Risk Grid are presented.