Glossary I

International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI)

Layman's explanation

A global standard with terminology and definitions to describe food textures and drink thickness for individuals with dysphagia

Used in a sentence

The care team will refer to an international guide for appropriate food textures and drink thickness for patients who have difficulty swallowing.

IDDSI Level 0 Thin Fluids

Layman's explanation

A fluid consistency term established by IDDSI referring to non-modified beverages e.g. water, coffee

Used in a sentence

Drinks that are not thickened, such as water and coffee.

IDDSI Level 1 Slightly Thick Fluids

Layman's explanation

A fluid consistency term established by IDDSI referring to fluid consistency that is slightly thick e.g. naturally occurring in barley drinks or achieved via use of thickener to change fluid consistency

Used in a sentence

Drinks that are slightly thickened, such as barley, or drinks that are added with thickener.

IDDSI Level 2 Mildly Thick Fluids

Layman's explanation

A fluid consistency term established by IDDSI referring to fluid consistency that is mildly thick and can be achieved via use of thickener to change fluid consistency

Used in a sentence

Drinks that have mildly thick consistency, which can be achieved by adding thickener.

IDDSI Level 3 Moderately Thick Fluids

Layman's explanation

A fluid consistency term established by IDDSI referring to fluid consistency that is moderately thick e.g. honey or achieve via use of thickener to change fluid consistency

Used in a sentence

Drinks that have moderately thick consistency, such as honey, or drinks added with thickener.

IDDSI Level 4 Extremely Thick Fluids

Layman's explanation

A fluid consistency term established by IDDSI referring to fluid consistency that is slightly thick e.g. yoghurt or achieved via use of thickener to change fluid consistency

Used in a sentence

Drinks that have slightly thick consistency, such as yoghurt, or drinks added with thickener.

IDDSI Level 4 Pureed Diet

Layman's explanation

A diet texture term established by IDDSI referring to a smooth, paste-like food e.g. mashed potatoes, almond paste

Used in a sentence

Food that has smooth paste-like texture, such as mashed potatoes and almond paste.

IDDSI Level 5 Minced and Moist Diet

Layman's explanation

A diet texture term established by IDDSI referring to a finely chopped (approx. 0.4cm) and moist diet e.g. minced meat

Used in a sentence

Food that are finely chopped and moist, such as minced meat.

IDDSI Level 6 Soft and Bite-sized Diet

Layman's explanation

A diet texture term established by IDDSI referring to food cooked to soft texture and cut up into small pieces approx. 1.5cm x 1.5cm in size

Used in a sentence

Food that has soft texture and cut into small pieces of about 1.5cm by 1.5cm.

IDDSI Level 7 Regular Diet

Layman's explanation

A diet texture term established by IDDSI referring to regular food with no restrictions

Used in a sentence

Regular food with no restrictions.

IDDSI Level 7 Regular-Easy To Chew Diet

Layman's explanation

A diet texture term established by IDDSI referring to regular food but naturally soft in nature e.g. soft bread, soft rice with gravy

Used in a sentence

Regular food that are soft, such as soft bread, rice with gravy.

Impaired cognition

Layman's explanation

Decline in mental ability to perform complex tasks

Used in a sentence

The patient’s illness may have caused a decline in their mental ability to perform complex tasks.

Impaired coordination

Layman's explanation

Reduced ability to perform accurate actions and movements

Used in a sentence

As a result of the patient’s illness, he has reduced ability to perform accurate actions and movements.

Impaired sensation

Layman's explanation

Unable to feel and respond to touch normally

Used in a sentence

The patient’s illness may be the cause to being unable to feel and respond to touch normally.

Incentive Spirometer (IS)

Layman's explanation

Breathing device to help the lungs breathe normally again

Used in a sentence

After your operation, we will give you a breathing device to help your lungs breathe normally again.

Indwelling catheter (IDC)

Layman's explanation

A tube inserted to the bladder to help you pass urine

Used in a sentence

In view of Mr Lim’s condition, we recommend inserting a tube called an indwelling catheter to help him pass urine.

Internal rotation (related to joint movement)

Layman's explanation

Rotate arm or leg towards the body

Used in a sentence

The action of rotating his arm or leg joint towards the body.

Intestinal Obstruction (IO)

Layman's explanation

Intestines are blocked

Used in a sentence

Usually, if your intestines are blocked, you will not be able to pass gas or pass motion. You may also have a swollen abdomen.

Intramuscular Injection (IM)

Layman's explanation

Injection straight into the muscle

Used in a sentence

Injections straight into the muscle help the body absorb medicine faster. You would have experienced this when you get flu shots or similar vaccines.

Intravenous (IV)

Layman's explanation

Inject into the vein

Used in a sentence

The nurse will inject the medicine into the vein to deliver it directly and quickly into the body.

IO Chart (Intake Output Chart)

Layman's explanation

A chart to record all your drinks and all the waste (urine/motion) that you pass out to better understand your body condition

Used in a sentence

We would like you to record what you eat and drink, and what you pass out on this chart.