Archives

Your Body, Your Choice: Understanding Thickened Liquids and Dysphagia

March 31, 2025 by Ashley Zhinin.
This patient-centered resource empowers individuals with dysphagia to make informed decisions about their care, emphasizing autonomy and quality of life over outdated norms. It provides clear, research-backed information about thickened liquids, hydration, and the importance of honoring patient preferences, making it a perfect tool to spark meaningful, collaborative discussions in therapy.
This content is only available to members.

The Point of Thickened Liquids (IDDSI version)

September 20, 2024 by Megan Berg.
This handout is for people who have dysphagia and choose to use thickened liquids as a compensatory strategy due to a delayed swallow. This version uses the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI).
This content is only available to members.

How to Make Thickened Liquid Popsicles

December 25, 2021 by Megan Berg.
There are, in fact, ways to make it so that thickened liquids don’t taste like snot. One strategy is to serve the drinks as cold as possible… even better, freeze them!
This content is only available to members.

Hidden Dangers for People with Dysphagia on Thickened Liquids

December 25, 2021 by Megan Berg.
This handout is designed for patients, caregivers, and staff to illustrate where “hidden” thin liquids may pose a risk for people with dysphagia on thickened liquids. While not a comprehensive list, this handout highlights ice, straws, frozen treats, soup, and saliva, laying out the reasons why these things may pose an increased risk of aspiration and offering alternative solutions to reduce this risk.
This content is only available to members.

Consistency Testing Methods for IDDSI Levels

December 23, 2021 by Megan Berg.
The IDDSI website provides a lot of helpful information for standardizing the testing of consistencies for solids and liquids; however, it can be overwhelming to locate all of the information needed for a full understanding. This resource provides all of the information required to understand each type of test, which test is appropriate for each level, and what the test should reveal in one easy-to-read chart. This can be used by dietary, nursing staff, speech-language pathologists, or other staff members or caregivers to determine if a person is being provided the correct recommended consistency.
This content is only available to members.