Getting ready for the New International Dysphagia Diet Standards – IDDSI
From May 1, Australia will start using new Dysphagia Diet Standards. They will be replaced by the new International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative – IDDSI
What is IDDSI and Why?
IDDSI is the new international diet standard that will be used to describe all food texture and drink thickness. It will be used across the world, for everyone from 0-115 years, in all care, hospital, community and industry settings.
It is important that a person with dysphagia (swallowing difficulties) is provided the prescribed diet and drinks to ensure they can eat, chew and swallow safely. Swallowing problems can lead to medical complications such as chest infections, life-threating choking incidents and malnutrition.
The IDDSI classifications is a way to ensure everyone supporting a person with dysphagia uses the same terminology to describe food textures and drink thickness to maximise safety for people living with dysphagia.
People who will start using the new IDDSI classification system from May 1st, 2019 will include
- People with swallowing difficulties
- Speech pathologists
- Dietitians
- Chefs, Cooks and Catering teams
- Industry food and fluid manufacturers catering for people with dysphagia
- Clinical teams
- Care teams
- Hospitals, Aged Care Homes
- Researches
Loqui Brief Description of IDDSI Standards – download your complementary poster