Thickened liquids are better tolerated by residents with dysphagia and can have textures such as nectar thick or honey thick. What term describes these liquids?

• A. Regular liquids
• B. Thickened liquids
• C. Thin liquids
• D. Dense liquids

Answer: (B)

Thickened liquids describe fluids whose viscosity has been increased so they move more slowly through the swallow. In dysphagia care, nectar-thick and honey-thick are common texture descriptors that specify the level of thickness used to help safe swallowing. The slower flow gives the swallow more time to coordinate the airway protection and tongue/pharyngeal movements, reducing the risk of aspiration and residue. Nectar-thick is moderately thick, while honey-thick is thicker still, with other levels available in broader texture systems. Regular or thin liquids flow quickly and can be harder to control for someone with dysphagia, while “dense liquids” isn’t the standard term used for these textures.