IDDSI – common terminology for the diner’s best interest
IDDSI (International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative) is an international effort to improve the quality of life for the 560 million people living with eating and swallowing difficulties, known as dysphagia.
For people with dysphagia, it is vital that everyone throughout the care chain uses the same terminology for the consistency of food and drinks. We must agree on what is easy to chew and what is thickened, which foods are classified as what, and when one consistency transitions to another. This is where IDDSI comes in. They have scientifically developed terminology with clear definitions of consistencies. These standards are now being implemented worldwide — including here in Sweden.
The goal of IDDSI is to increase patient safety by enabling people with swallowing difficulties to eat and drink safely, no matter where in the world they are — and thereby also manage to meet their energy and nutritional needs.
Since 2013, IDDSI has been led by speech therapists, dietitians, doctors, occupational therapists, and several other professional groups. At BrandEye, we work with IDDSI classifications. If your organization has not yet implemented IDDSI, we can of course adapt our training to the way you work.
