Dysphagia

Question 1

What does 7Regular refer to in food texture classification?

Answer 1

Normal, everyday foods of soft/tender texture. Does not include foods that present a choking hazard.

This classification is for foods that are easy to chew.

Question 2

Describe the characteristics of 6Soft & bite-sized foods.

Answer 2

Can be eaten with a fork, spoon, or chopsticks
* Can be mashed with utensil
* Soft, tender and moist throughout
* No separated thin liquid
* Chewing required before swallowing

A knife isn’t required to cut the food but can be helpful to load food onto utensil.

Question 3

What defines 5Minced & moist foods?

Answer 3

Can be eaten with a fork or spoon
* Can be scooped and shaped on a plate
* Soft and moist without separated thin liquid
* Small lumps visible within food but easily squashed with tongue

This texture is suitable for individuals who can handle some lumps.

Question 4

What is the texture of 4Pureed foods?

Answer 4

Extremely Thick
* Eaten with a spoon
* Cannot be drunk from a cup or sucked through a straw
* Does not require chewing
* Retains shape when piped, layered, or molded
* Shows slow movement under gravity
* No lumps

Liquid does not separate from solid.

Question 5

What does 3Liquidized indicate about food texture?

Answer 5

Moderately Thick
* Can be drunk from a cup
* Moderate effort to drink through standard straw
* Cannot be piped, layered or molded onto a plate
* Smooth texture with no ‘bits’

This texture does not require any oral processing or chewing.

Question 6

What are the characteristics of 2Mildly Thick foods?

Answer 6

Flows off a spoon
* Sippable
* Mild effort required to drink through standard straw

This texture is thicker than liquid but still manageable.

Question 7

Define 1Slightly Thick in food texture classification.

Answer 7

Thicker than water
* Flows through a straw, syringe, and teat/nipple
* Allows for better control than thin liquids

This texture is suitable for individuals who may have difficulty with thin liquids.

Question 8

What does 0Thin refer to in food texture?

Answer 8

Flows like water
* Can drink through any type of teat/nipple, cup, or straw as appropriate for age and skill

This is the least thick texture, suitable for most individuals.