International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI)

The International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) is an international collaboration of professionals who developed a standardized framework for labeling texture-modified foods and thickened liquids. The framework is designed to avoid the confusion created by variable terminology and definitions to describe modified diets around the world. IDDSI’s goal is to improve the safety and care for all individuals with dysphagia, across all cultures.

ASHA Supports the IDDSI

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), the Association of Nutrition & Foodservice Professionals (ANFP), and ASHA support ongoing interprofessional collaborative practice to implement the IDDSI since its official launch in May 2019 in the United States.

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. ASHA engages with the US IDDSI Reference Group (USIRG) and Pediatric IDDSI Reference Group (PedsIRG) through quarterly interprofessional meetings with representatives from AND and ANFP.

In August 2022, the ASHA Board of Directors passed a resolution (BOD 16-2022) to continue support of the IDDSI Framework, including exhibiting at the annual ASHA Convention.

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®.