Correlation+between+the+NDD+and+the+DOSS

Below is a table that shows the National Dysphagia Diet levels that speech and Language Pathologists recommeded at each level of the Doss, ( National Dysphagia Task Force, American Dietetic Association, 2002).


 * **Dysphagia Outcome Severity Scales (DOSS)**
 * 1 2 3 4 5 6 7** ||
 * **recommeded NDD Diet Levels 1 1 and2 2and3 3and4 4 4 4** ||

This table was compiled from interviews undertaken by the NDD task force of fifty Speech and Language Pathologists who had experience in the field of dysphagia at an experienced or intermediate level.

Important Note
Again as previously stated, it is not realistic to assume that a severity scale will automatically match up with a particular diet. Every patient is different and every patient with dysphagia will present with their own unique difficulties in the swallowig mechanism. In our case our patient has had a partial glossectomy and is currently undergoing radiotherapy. Unfortunatly for the Speech and Language therapist you cannot match up a severity rating with a particular diet to solve a swallowing problems that may occur within this patient population. The National Dysphagia diet and its tips about food textures and modifications, and severity rating scales, (the DOSS included) are just supplementary tools for the clinican. The Speech and Language Therapist should only base these tools in adjunct to his/her own clinical judgement, experience and a comprehensive assessment.