March 9, 2019 In: Blog Comments (None)

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 1^st, 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

IDDSI Names and Numbers

IDDSI names and numbers will describe modified foods and drinks. A Speech Pathologist may prescribe thickened fluids or modified foods for people with dysphagia (swallowing difficulties).

The new IDDSI codes, can be represented 4 ways things

Colour
Number
Name
Code

For example, a Minced & Moist textured diet can be represented 4 ways

By colour = Orange
By number = 5
By Name = Minced & Moist
By Diet Code = MM5

For safety, it is best to describe food textures and drink thickness using at least 2 classifications. E.g. Minced & Moist + Level 5.

This is the Universal IDDSI Diagram. Foods are represented in a triangle pointing down and fluids are represented as triangle pointing up.

Across Australia, Loqui Speech Pathologists are educating care, clinical and catering teams on IDDSI. Contact us to arrange a webinar, in-house education session or book us for a 3-hour comprehensive in-house practical compliance workshop for your teams.