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Leaflet ref: PD-SALT19-18
Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust
Sentinel House 4–6 Nuffield Road Poole, Dorset
BH17 0RB @DorsetHealth
01202 277000 www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk
Jurassic SALT Team Contact Details
Speech & Language Therapy Department
Community Offices
Weymouth Community Hospital
Melcombe Avenue
WEYMOUTH
DT4 7TB
Tel: 01305 762584
E-mail:
[email protected]
How to thicken drinks using
Thick & Easy Clear
Patient name:
Date:
Why do I need to thicken my drinks?
You have been advised to thicken all your drinks to help you swallow more safely. To do this, you will need to use a special thickening powder. This leaflet explains how to thicken using Thick & Easy Clear. Other brands are available, but they may have different thickening instructions.
You will be prescribed tins of Thick & Easy Clear by your GP. The more powder you add to a drink, the thicker the fluid will become. You must thicken all drinks, hot, cold or alcoholic, and also things like gravy, sauces or soups. Ordinary drinks are not suitable until they have been thickened, even water. Some drinks are naturally thicker and may not need thickening; see page 7 for examples.
Thickened drinks are safer for you because they move more slowly and are easier to control in your mouth. Therefore they are less likely to ‘go down the wrong way’. Thickened drinks may also help to counteract any loss of sensation in your mouth or throat.
Inside your tin of Thick & Easy Clear, there is a blue measuring scoop – it may be ‘buried’ by the powder. Use the scoop to help you
measure out the correct amount of thickener.
Please ensure that the tin lid is kept on, and read the label regarding the expiry date.
You have been recommended to thicken all your fluids to
the following IDDSI Level:
Thick & Easy Clear mixing instructions
Level 1 - slightly thick
This is the least thickened fluid, but noticeably thicker than a
thin fluid.
In a mug (200ml) add 1 scoop of thickener
Level 2 - mildly thick
Leaves a light coating on the back of a spoon.
Thin enough to be sucked up through a straw.
In a mug (200ml) add 2 scoops of thickener
Level 3 - moderately thick
Leaves a thick coating on the back of a spoon.
Some effort required to suck through a straw.
Drips slowly or in dollops through the prongs of a fork.
Is pourable and can be drunk from an open cup.
In a mug (200ml) add 3 scoops of thickener
Level 4 - extremely thick
Will not drip or flow through the prongs of a fork.
Will hold its shape on a teaspoon, but slide off with little left in
the spoon.
How to thicken drinks
1. Add the required amount of thickener to a clean dry glass or cup.
2. Slowly add the required volume of drink or liquid while stirring continuously.
3. Stir until the powder is completely dissolved, then leave to stand for a minute or two.
4. Before serving, check there are no lumps in the fluid. If so, remove them or make a fresh drink.
General tips
If your drink is more or less than 200 ml, calculate the correct amount of thickener to use, e.g. 1 scoop of Thick & Easy Clear in 100 ml will make a Level 2/mildly thick Level 2/mildly thick drink.
Always keep the lid on the tin of thickener, or it will get damp and its thickening power will change.
Milky drinks and milky supplement drinks take longer and may need 5–8 minutes to thicken. Using a whisk or beaker with a lid may make it easier to thicken supplements. Whisk or shake the drink as soon as you have added it to the powder.
If you are finding it difficult to mix the thickening powder into milky supplements, ask about having fortified puddings instead, or ask your GP to prescribe pre-thickened supplements.
Do not keep homemade thickened drinks for longer than 24 hours.
At home, you can experiment with making your own smoothies by
blending smooth fruits such as mango, banana, tinned
apricots, tinned peaches or tinned pears with juice or yoghurt.
You must check that any naturally thick shop bought or
homemade thickened drinks match the consistency of
thick-ened fluid that you have been recommended.
Additional Information:
Websites for further information:
www.whatwearemadeof.org
www.iddsi.org
Thickening by the jugful
It is a good idea to mix up a jugful of thickened drink in the morning and keep it in the fridge to use during the day. This saves time and effort.
1. You will need a clean, dry jug that will hold at least a litre of fluid.
2. Measure out and prepare your chosen drink (e.g. squash, juice, water) in a measuring jug.
For a level 1/slightly thick drink, add 5 scoops of
Thick & Easy Clear to the clean jug.
For a level 2/mildly thick drink, add 10 scoops of
Thick & Easy Clear to the clean jug.
For a level 3/moderately thick drink, add 15 scoops of
Thick & Easy Clear to the clean jug.
For a level 4/extremely thick drink, add 30 scoops of
Thick & Easy Clear to the clean jug.
4. Add 1 litre of your chosen drink to the jug.
5. Stir until the powder has dissolved.
6. Leave to stand for a couple of minutes and it will be ready to drink.
7.
Keep in the fridge and pour drinks throughout the day. Stir the drink before serving to ensure the thickness is still correct.Frequently asked questions...
I don’t like thickened drinks, do I still have to have
them?
There’s no doubt about it, thickened drinks aren’t what we’re used to, but if they are easier or safer to swallow then they’re worth persevering with. Speech and Language Therapists try everything they can to avoid recommending thickened drinks, so if you are recommended them then you really do need them.
Why is getting enough fluid so important?
Our bodies need fluid for many different reasons, here are just a few: To help prevent constipation
To help prevent bladder and urinary infections To help our brains work efficiently
To help our skin stay strong and healthy
How much should I be drinking?
Every day, aim to have between 8-10 drinks. Ideally you should be having about 2 litres of fluid a day. Alcoholic drinks don’t count! If you are drinking enough, your urine should be quite pale in colour.
Remember that some foods contain a lot of liquid.
Providing they are the right thickness for you, they can help you get the right amount of fluid every day. The following can all help:
Smooth, thick soups Yoghurts
Custard Mousse
Stewed or pureed fruit
Blancmange, instant whip desserts
Different drinks to try
Hot drinks
Different people have different tastes, but many find hot thickened drinks are particularly strange at first. Many people find thickened coffee is nicer than thickened tea, and that thickened malted drinks or hot chocolate are quite acceptable. If you really don’t like hot thickened drinks, stop having them and replace them with cold thickened drinks instead.
Cold drinks
It helps if cold drinks really are cold (from the fridge rather than at room temperature) as it makes them more refreshing.
Sometimes drinks with a sharper flavour are more refreshing when thickened, sometimes they can also help speed up a slow swallow, so try the following:
Lime cordial
Cranberry juice or squash Grapefruit juice or squash
Naturally thicker cold drinks
Some cold drinks are naturally a Level 1/Slightly thick or Level 2/Level 2/ mildly thick
mildly thick and may be more enjoyable than a thickened drink, e.g.
Fruit smoothies Milkshakes
Yoghurt smoothies
