ASHA Supports the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI)

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), the Association of Nutrition & Foodservice Professionals (ANFP), and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) support ongoing interprofessional collaborative practice to implement the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) since its official launch in May 2019 in the United States. IDDSI is an international collaboration of professionals who developed a standardized framework for labeling texture-modified foods and thickened liquids. 

Recognizing that total IDDSI implementation will take time and effort, these three organizations—AND, ANFP, and ASHA—are committed to supporting their members during their transition. The U.S. IDDSI Reference Group (USIRG) was formed in November 2020 with the goal of facilitating and supporting implementation of IDDSI in the United States and Territories over the following 1–2 years. Representatives of AND, ANFP, and ASHA engage with the USIRG in ongoing implementation efforts across the country.

Note: The National Dysphagia Diet (NDD) was formerly part of the full Nutrition Care Manual (NCM)® established by the AND. The AND announced that beginning in October 2021, IDDSI will be the only texture-modified diet recognized by NCM®. Therefore, after October 2021, the NDD and its associated resources are no longer being included in the NCM®.

Please check the IDDSI website, the Eat Right website, the Association of Nutrition & Foodservice Professionals website, and the ASHA website for additional IDDSI related educational opportunities and resources.