OBJECTIVE To assess the pattern and severity of globus-type symptoms, as measured by the Glasgow Edinburgh throat scale, in individuals who had never sought health care for a feeling of something in the throat, in order to generate the first useful normative dataset for the Glasgow Edinburgh throat scale. METHODS One hundred and seventy-four participants recruited from non-ENT clinics completed the Glasgow Edinburgh throat scale. They were distributed among three age groups (21-45, 46-65 and >65 years). RESULTS The commonest throat symptoms reported were 'coughing to clear the throat', followed by 'catarrh down the throat' and 'discomfort/irritation in the throat'. CONCLUSIONS The results of the study--a normative dataset for the Glasgow Edinburgh throat scale--may form the basis for: (a) the use of the Glasgow Edinburgh throat scale in primary care to identify patients for whom referral to secondary care may be appropriate; (b) monitoring the natural history of globus sensation; and (c) assessing response to intervention, in terms of resolution to baseline population levels of symptom severity.