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This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
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A nosey cup is a drinking cup with a notch cut into its rim so the nose fits into the cut-out when the cup is tilted. It is sold as a swallowing-aid (dysphagia) cup, so that a person can finish a drink without tipping the head back. Readers who land here are usually clinic staff, caregivers or buyers trying to work out what the product is and what a product page does and does not tell them. Choosing a cup for a particular person is a decision for that person’s treating clinician, for example a speech-language pathologist.
What a nosey cup is
A nosey cup is a nose cut-out cup: an ordinary-looking drinking cup whose rim has a scooped notch for the nose. Sellers describe it as a dysphagia cup, meaning a cup for people who have difficulty swallowing. One seller lists a 4 oz version made of durable translucent plastic with a cut-out design “for proper head/neck positioning during swallowing” (WellBefore listing). An Australian seller describes a “Nosey Cut Out Drinking Cup” that avoids tilting the head and neck backwards (HMG Direct listing).
Supplies like this also appear on speech therapy clinic supply checklists.
How the nose cut-out works
The notch gives the nose room, so the rim can sit against the lips while the cup tilts further without the nose hitting the cup. That lets the liquid reach the mouth while the head stays closer to level. HMG Direct states that the user can drink sitting up or lying down and simply tilts the cup (HMG Direct listing).
The reason head position matters is set out in US Patent 5,323,928, “Dysphagia cup” (inventor Barry A. Stevens, filed 1992-09-16, granted 1994-06-28). Its background says people with dysphagia often have trouble swallowing when the head is tilted, due to a tendency to aspirate fluid into the lungs. The same background describes earlier “nose-cups” with a cut-out on the rim to accommodate the nose. The patent is a separate design, not the origin of the Nosey Cup brand.
The product pages themselves state the benefit as a manufacturer or seller claim. None of the seller pages cite clinical testing of nose cut-out cups, so treat statements about preventing aspiration or choking as the seller’s, not as an established result.
Nose cut-out cup designs compared
| Design | How it handles the nose and flow | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Nosey Cup ADL, 4 oz | Rim cut-out for head and neck positioning; graduated in 2 oz markings | WellBefore listing |
| Nosey Cut Out Drinking Cup | Cut-out so the head and neck do not tilt backwards; usable sitting up or lying down | HMG Direct listing |
| Rije Dysphagia Cup (a different product line) | Nose clearance so the user can drink without tipping the head back; dispenses adjustable portions of 3 ml to 15 ml | Performance Health listing |
| Patented “Dysphagia cup” (US 5,323,928) | Elliptical aperture sized to accommodate the nasal bridge, rather than a rim notch | Google Patents record |
The practical difference is flow control: the Rije listing describes portioned dispensing, while the two Nosey listings describe a cut-out cup without any stated portion control.
Sizes listed by sellers
| Product | Capacity stated | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Nosey Cup ADL (WellBefore) | 4 oz, marked in 2 oz lines | WellBefore |
| Nosey Cut Out Cup (HMG Direct) | 118 mL, 236 mL and 355 mL | HMG Direct |
| Rije Dysphagia Cup (Performance Health) | Up to 250 ml; portions of 3 ml to 15 ml | Performance Health |
What to check on a product page
The checks below come from what sellers publish; the maker’s pack insert is the authority. It is a list of items to look for, not clinical selection advice.
- Capacity and markings. The listings above state 4 oz with 2 oz lines, or 118, 236 and 355 mL.
- Material. WellBefore states durable translucent plastic. The patent text describes a light-weight, non-toxic, shatter-resistant synthetic plastic for its own design, which is not a statement about any Nosey product.
- Latex and BPA status. HMG Direct states its cup is non-latex and BPA-free. The Performance Health listing for the Rije cup carries a label that it contains natural rubber latex, which may cause allergic reactions. The WellBefore listing makes no latex or BPA statement.
- Cleaning method. WellBefore states institutional dishwasher safe; Performance Health states dishwasher safe material; HMG Direct states dishwasher safe, with a temperature figure whose unit is not given, so follow the maker’s own pack or instructions rather than a number from a listing.
- Hot and cold drinks. WellBefore says hot and cold liquids; Performance Health says hot or cold drinks and thickened liquids for the Rije cup.
- Who the maker is and what warnings come with it. The WellBefore listing names no manufacturer and lists no warnings or instructions for use.
Cleaning and handling basics
The listings describe these cups as dishwasher safe, in some cases institutional dishwasher safe. Follow the instructions that come with the specific cup. Related reading on adult drinking aids is in spill-proof sippy cups for adults, and the equipment that sits alongside swallowing difficulty is covered in what a feeding tube is.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a nosey cup controls flow. The Nosey listings describe a cut-out, not portion control. A cup that dispenses set portions is a different product, such as the Rije cup.
- Assuming every nose cut-out cup is latex-free. One listing is labelled as containing natural rubber latex and another states non-latex. Check each product.
- Treating the 1994 patent as the Nosey Cup design. The patent describes an elliptical aperture, not a rim notch.
FAQ
What is a nosey cup used for?
It is used for drinking with the head closer to level. The notch for the nose lets the cup tilt without the nose meeting the rim, which sellers describe as helpful for people with difficulty swallowing.
Is a nosey cup the same as a dysphagia cup?
Sellers list it as a dysphagia cup, but “dysphagia cup” is a wider category that includes portion-controlled cups and the elliptical-aperture design in US 5,323,928.
Can a nosey cup be washed in a dishwasher?
The WellBefore and HMG Direct listings both say the cup is dishwasher safe, and WellBefore specifies institutional dishwasher safe. Check the instructions with your specific cup.
Does a nosey cup prevent aspiration?
Sellers claim the design helps with positioning, but none of these listings cites clinical testing. Whether it prevents aspiration is a question for the treating clinician.
Sources
Checked 2026-11-01.
- US Patent 5,323,928, “Dysphagia cup”: https://patents.google.com/patent/US5323928A/en
- Performance Health, Rije Dysphagia Cup (item 081615178): https://www.performancehealth.com/rije-dysphagia-cup
- WellBefore, Nosey Cup ADL Dysphagia Cup 4 oz: https://wellbefore.com/products/nosey-cup-adl-dysphagia-cup-4-oz
- HMG Direct, Nosey Cut Out Drinking Cup: https://www.hmgdirect.com.au/products/nosey-cut-out-drinking-cup-for-dysphagia-difficulty-swallowing
