This webinar took place on 19 June 2025
To thicken, or not to thicken, that is the question: exploring the evidence around the use of thickened fluids with children and young people with oropharyngeal dysphagia
Aims of the webinar:
- to share current evidence around the use of thickened fluids with children and young people with oropharyngeal dysphagia
- to seek professional opinion to inform future research in this area.
Thickened fluids are commonly used in the management of children & young people with oropharyngeal dysphagia. But do we know whether this is the best approach?
Evidence around the use of thickened fluids highlights a range of pros and cons. In this webinar we will present an overview of the latest evidence around the use of thickened fluids, alongside reflections from multidisciplinary clinicians with expertise in the management of children and young people with oropharyngeal dysphagia. There will also be an opportunity for you to help inform future research on the use of thickened fluids, and to pose questions to our panel.
The webinar was led by Dr. Morag Andrew, Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer, Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, and Consultant Paediatrician, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and included an overview of the evidence regarding the use of thickener with children and young people with dysphagia from SLTs Alex Stewart, SLT Research Lead at Great Ormond Street Hospital, and Rebecca Davidson, Clinical Lead SLT Developmental Dysphagia, NHS Lanarkshire. It also included a panel discussion with Morag, Gillian Welsher, Clinical Lead Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist at Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Lucy Jackman, Specialist Paediatric Dietitian, Great Ormond Street Hospital, reflecting upon the implantation of this evidence in clinical practice.
The webinar was aimed primarily at paediatricians, speech & language therapists, and dieticians.
View the presentation slides from the webinar
