The prevalence of lisps ranges between 5-15%. (source) and many people wonder how to fix a lateral lisp.
In this blog post we will discuss:
Different Types of Lisps
There are several types of lisps: frontal lisp, lateral lisp, dental lisp, and palatal lisp.
Frontal Lisp
A frontal lisp occurs when the airflow during speech is directed correctly, but the tongue is positioned improperly. This often happens when the tongue tip touches or pushes against the inside of the front teeth or even protrudes between the teeth when trying to produce certain sounds. This misplacement gives the sounds a slushy or "th"-like quality. The jaw might also be slightly lowered, contributing to the incorrect speech. Correcting a frontal lisp involves teaching the tongue to stay behind the teeth so that it does not interfere with the airflow, resulting in clearer speech.
Lateral Lisp
A lateral lisp occurs when the tongue is positioned more like it is making the /l/ sound. The tongue tip presses against the ridge just behind the upper front teeth, but instead of lifting the sides of the tongue to push air forward, one or both sides of the tongue are lowered. This allows air to escape from the sides of the tongue instead of the front, causing the sound to be distorted. The lips may also be improperly positioned, making the sound even less clear.
Dental Lisp
In a dental lisp, the tongue touches the front teeth when producing certain sounds, but it does not protrude between the teeth. Although the tongue remains behind the teeth, this positioning still distorts the sound, causing the speech to be unclear and muffled. Correcting a dental lisp requires teaching the child to position the tongue further back, away from the teeth, allowing for clearer speech.
Palatal Lisp
A palatal lisp occurs when the middle part of the tongue presses against the roof of the mouth, either against the hard palate (the bony front part) or the soft palate (the softer back part). This tongue placement gives speech a slushy and unclear quality. Palatal lisps are less common than other types of lisps but can make it difficult for a child to pronounce certain sounds. Therapy for a palatal lisp focuses on helping the child keep the tongue away from the palate, allowing for smoother airflow and clearer sound production.
Understanding and Diagnosing a Lateral Lisp
A lateral lisp can affect several sounds, including /s/, /z/, /sh/, /ch/, /zh/, and /dj/. These sounds appear in words like “sip,” “zoo,” “ship,” “chew,” “casual,” and “jam.” In a lateral lisp, the airflow escapes out to the sides of the mouth instead of flowing down the middle.
Lateralized speech sounds are often more difficult for listeners to understand.
A speech-language pathologist (SLP) is the best professional to diagnose and treat a lateral lisp. The SLP will develop a treatment plan tailored to the child's specific needs based on the underlying causes of the lateral lisp.
Causes of a Lateral Lisp
A lateral lisp can be caused by various factors. One common cause is incorrect tongue placement. Instead of directing airflow down the middle of the mouth, the tongue may be positioned lower on one or both sides, allowing air to escape laterally. Structural issues, such as a high or narrow palate, misaligned teeth, or limited tongue mobility (e.g., due to a tongue tie), can also affect sound production, leading to a lateral lisp.
Oral Myofunctional Disorders (OMD) are often the root cause of these structural anomalies; for example, a tongue tie or thumb sucking can lead to abnormalities in the palate or crooked teeth. Additionally, oral-motor habits such as thumb sucking, prolonged pacifier use (source), or excessive mouth breathing can influence tongue placement, contributing to the development of a lateral lisp over time.
Speech Therapy for a Lateral Lisp
Speech therapy can correct a lateral lisp by training the positioning of the tongue muscles to produce a clear /s/, /z/, /sh/, /ch/, /zh/, and /dj/ sound. A speech-language pathologist will work with the child to develop a treatment plan that is specific to their needs. Speech therapy can help improve a child’s speech sound disorders and correct speech patterns. Early intervention in a child's speech is crucial to prevent long-term issues with clarity, especially in school settings where clear communication is necessary. A speech therapist can provide online speech therapy services for children with a lateral lisp.
Correcting a Lateral Lisp: Techniques and Exercises for Proper Tongue Placement in the /s/ Sound
Before starting this technique, make sure you can consistently produce the /t/ sound on its own.
Step 1: Begin by repeating the /t/ sound quickly, saying "t-t-t-t." Try to avoid adding any vowel sounds, as this helps press the sides of your tongue more firmly against your teeth.
As you repeat the /t/ sound rapidly, listen carefully—you might notice a slight /s/ sound between the repetitions.
Step 2: Next, make the /t/ sound and allow a small amount of air to escape at the end, creating a softer sound. Focus on letting the airflow follow the /t/ rather than trying to produce an /s/ directly.
Step 3: Once you're able to produce the /ts/ sound, move on to the next step. It's important to get a clear /s/ at the end of this step to ensure the sound is being made correctly. This step may take some time—practice saying "t-t-t-tssss" repeatedly until it sounds right.
Step 4: Once you've mastered this, practice words that end in /ts/, such as "eats," "beets," "meets," and "hits." Be sure these words don’t contain other /s/ sounds.
Step 5: Finally, use this practice to help you produce the /s/ sound at the beginning of words. Try combining an ending /ts/ sound with a word that starts with /s/.
For example:
"He hits even."
"He hitssssss even."
"He hitsssss seven."
Correcting a Lateral Lisp: Techniques and Exercises for Proper Tongue Placement in the /sh/ Sound
Step 1: Start by producing the /n/ sound: Place your tongue tip against the ridge just behind your upper front teeth as if you're about to say /n/.
Step 2: Pull the tongue back slightly: While maintaining the tongue's position on the ridge, gently pull your tongue back slightly in your mouth.
Step 3: Bite down gradually: Slowly bring your upper and lower teeth together, lightly touching but not pressing hard.
Step 4: Pucker your lips a little: Slightly round your lips, as if you were about to whistle, while keeping your teeth lightly together.
Step 5: Blow air: Finally, exhale softly, directing the airflow over the tongue and through the small space between your teeth.
Practice this sequence several times to get comfortable with the movement and the sound it produces.
Working with a Speech-Language Pathologist for a Lateral Lisp
A speech therapist can help a child or adult with a lateral lisp learn to speak correctly by creating a personalized plan to improve their speech. They may also work with parents to develop practice activities that can be done at home, making progress faster. Online speech therapy is another option available for children or adults with a lateral lisp. With the therapist's guidance, a child or adult can improve their speech and speak more clearly in conversations.
The speech therapist may use positional cues to help the individual produce different sounds correctly.
The individual may practice words that start with target sounds in initial word position.
The individual may practice words that have target sounds in different word positions, including the final word position.
The individual may practice words with the target sound in conversational speech.
Conclusion
A lateral lisp can be effectively treated through speech therapy, helping an individual develop proper speech patterns. A skilled speech-language pathologist works with the individual to target the lateral lisp and guide them toward correct articulation of sounds, such as /s/. With consistent practice and tailored exercises, the individual can learn to produce clear, accurate speech, leading to improved speech skills. Individualized speech therapy sessions are designed to address the specific needs of each Individual, ensuring steady progress in overcoming a lateral lisp.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do children typically outgrow lisps?
Frontal lisps are developmental and can be outgrown; however, if a child presents with a lateral lisp, it is not developmental and should be addressed with speech therapy.
Does my child require speech therapy to fix a lisp?
This depends on the type of lisp, the age of the child, and how quickly you would like the lisp to be resolved.
Can adults overcome a lisp?
No matter how old you are, it is possible to overcome a lisp.
Can a lisp affect my child's self-confidence?
Lisps can often impact a child's self-confidence if they are aware that their speech differs from their peers. They may avoid using sounds affected by their lisp, limiting what they want to say.
Can thumb sucking cause a lisp?
Thumb sucking can cause a low tongue resting posture, which can lead to a variety of issues, including a lisp.
Can tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) cause a lisp?
A tongue-tie can cause a low tongue resting posture and a range of issues, including a lisp.
Can lisps impact professional communication in adults?
Lisps can impact speech production and, therefore, professional communication in adults.
What are the long-term effects of an untreated lisp?
Untreated lisps can cause low self-confidence, discomfort when speaking, and limited social and professional opportunities.
Can speech therapy help with other communication challenges alongside a lisp?
Speech therapy can address language, fluency disorders, aphasia, voice disorders, and other articulation issues in addition to a lisp.
Is it possible for a lisp to get worse over time?
Typically, lisps do not worsen over time; however, if the lisp is causing dental changes or if the individual receives a dental appliance (such as a bite plate), the lisp may worsen.
What sounds are most affected by a lisp?
Sounds most impacted by a lisp include /s/, /z/, /sh/, /ch/, /zh/, and /dj/.
Speech Therapist for a Lateral Lisp in Skokie, Illinois
At Speak with Stephanie, we take a personalized approach to address your specific challenges with a lateral lisp. Whether you're an adult or a child, our in-person speech therapy sessions are designed to meet your unique needs. A lateral lisp occurs when the airflow is directed over the sides of the tongue instead of forward, often affecting sounds like /s/, /z/, /sh/, /ch/, /zh/, and /dj/. This can make speech unclear and impact your communication. We work together to identify what’s causing your lisp and how it affects your speech, self-esteem, and daily interactions. Through targeted exercises and strategies, we'll focus on improving your pronunciation and helping you produce clear, articulate speech. Our goal is to empower you with practical tools that enhance your communication skills and boost your confidence.
Online Speech Therapy for a Lateral Lisp Across Illinois, New York, and New Jersey
In addition to our in-person services, we offer online speech therapy for lateral lisps to children and adults throughout Illinois, New York, and New Jersey. Our virtual sessions are designed to help you work on correcting your lisp in a comfortable environment, providing the same personalized care and effective strategies as our in-person sessions. We focus on helping you achieve clear, confident speech by addressing the specific issues associated with a lateral lisp.
Comprehensive Speech Therapy Services at Speak with Stephanie
At Speak with Stephanie, we offer a broad range of speech therapy services for both children and adults. For children, we address challenges such as receptive and expressive language difficulties, stuttering, and articulation disorders, For adults, we provide support for communication challenges including stuttering, aphasia, language disorders, and pronunciation difficulties. Our approach is tailored to each individual's needs, ensuring that you receive personalized, effective care. We are dedicated to helping you make meaningful progress in your communication skills, enabling you to succeed in your daily interactions and achieve your personal goals.
Whether you’re seeking help for a lateral lisp or other speech-related challenges, Speak with Stephanie is here to provide the guidance and support you need to speak clearly and confidently.
We provide in-person speech therapy services near Skokie, Illinois including Evanston, Morton Grove, Highland Park, and Wilmette.
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