What are Lisps: Causes, Types, and Treatment

A lisp is a speech issue that affects how someone says a group of sounds called sibilants (s, z, sh, zh, ch, j) and lingua-alveolar (t, d, n, l). Sibilant sounds are those made by hissing, like “s” and “z”, while lingua-alveolar sounds involve the tongue touching the ridge behind the upper teeth. Learned inappropriate speech movements can cause lisps, which may persist into adulthood without treatment. Four types of lisps exist: interdental, dentalized, lateral, and palatal.

Speech therapy plays a crucial role in the treatment and management of lisping. Specially trained speech therapists work with individuals to correct improper tongue placement and improve muscle control required for proper articulation. If your child is still lisping beyond 4.5-5 years old, then you should consult a speech pathologist. Speech therapy programs tailor to individual needs, designing exercises to be engaging and effective for each person. The intervention often occurs at an early age, as early detection and therapy can significantly improve outcomes.

In educational settings, addressing speech issues is vital for a child’s confidence and learning development. When speech disorders like lisping are identified early by educators, appropriate therapy can be initiated promptly. This early intervention, often in the form of speech therapy within educational frameworks, ensures that children have the best possible support to overcome speech difficulties and thrive in their academic and social lives.

Key Takeaways

• Lisp is a speech disorder influencing sibilants (s, z, sh, zh, ch, j) and lingua-alveolar (t, d, n, l), with various causes.
• Speech therapy is essential for correcting lisps through targeted exercises.
• Addressing lisping early in educational settings boosts confidence and learning.

Understanding Lisp

Lisping in children is a speech disorder marked by the misarticulation of sibilants (s, z, sh, zh, ch, j) and lingua-alveolar (t, d, n, l) sounds. This section provides insights into the common causes of lisping and the various types of lisps observed in children.

Causes of Lisp in Children

Some of the most common causes of a lisp in children include:

• Learned inaccurate tongue postures and movements for sounds
• Reduced oral stability of the whole face including the child’s jaw, tongue, cheeks, and lips.
• Tongue tie
• Hearing issues

Different Types of Lisp

Interdental Lisp: This occurs when a child thrusts their tongue between the teeth while articulating ‘s’ and ‘z’ sounds, which makes the sounds resemble a ‘th.’

Dentalized Lisp: A dentalized lisp occurs when a child presses their tongue against their front teeth, making “s” and “z” sounds unclear.

Lateral Lisp: Here, the air flows inappropriately over the sides of the tongue rather than down the center, leading to ‘s’ and ‘z’ sounds that are often described as wet or slushy.

A palatal lisp—less common—emerges when the middle of the tongue touches the soft palate, or the back of the mouth is raised too high when attempting to produce ‘s’ and ‘z’ sounds.

Each type of lisp has distinct characteristics that speech-language pathologists look for during assessment and therapy. Intervention typically involves helping the child relearn the articulation of sibilants (s, z, sh, zh, ch, j) or lingua-alveolar (t, d, n, l) sounds through targeted speech exercises and practice.

Treatment and Therapy

In treating a lisp, both professional therapy and practicing at home are essential. Speech therapists offer specialized skills to help improve articulation.

Professional Speech Therapy

Speech pathologists assess and treat lisps in various settings, including schools, private clinics, and hospitals. School speech therapists indeed treat lisps among their student populations, focusing specifically on correcting speech sound disorders. They develop individualized treatment plans based on comprehensive evaluations that include oral-motor assessments and listening to the individual’s speech.

Speech therapy for a lisp typically involves exercises that enhance the client’s ability to produce specific sounds correctly. This can include:

• Target Sound Practice: Repetitive exercises for the accurate production of sounds.
• Visual Aids: Use of mirrors or visual biofeedback to help clients see the shape and movement of their mouths.
• Auditory Discrimination: Training to hear the difference between the lisp and correct sound production.

Techniques for Treating Lisp

In addition to professional therapy, individuals can practice several techniques to treat a lisp. These techniques are often prescribed by therapists but can be practiced at home for reinforcement:

1. Isolation: Practicing the troublesome sound on its own repeatedly.
2. Syllable Practice: Combining the sound with vowels to form syllables.
3. Word Practice: Progressing to using the sound in short, then longer words.
4. Sentence Practice: Incorporating the correct sound production within various sentence structures.
5. Conversation Practice: Using the sound accurately during spontaneous conversation.

Furthermore, therapists may use supports to improve jaw, tongue, cheeks, and/or lip stability. Feedback is crucial, so regular monitoring through audio or video recordings can help track progress.

Speech Therapy in Education

In the educational setting, speech therapists often address a variety of communication issues, including articulation disorders such as lisps. They work closely with students to improve their speech through targeted exercises and therapies.

Common tasks of speech therapists in schools include:

• Assessing students’ speech capabilities.
• Developing individualized treatment plans.
• Conducting one-on-one or group therapy sessions.
• Collaborating with teachers and parents to support the child’s progress.

School speech therapists are equipped to treat lisps. They utilize techniques that help students correct the specific misarticulations associated with lisp disorders:

• Sibilant sounds (like ‘s’ and ‘z’) are practiced using mirror feedback and tongue positioning exercises.
• Providing proprioceptive feedback for tongue placement and jaw opening
• They also incorporate fun activities that engage students in the therapeutic process.

These experts play a vital role in supporting children with speech challenges within the school system. They boost confidence and communication skills, vital for success.

Frequently Asked Questions

In this section, readers will find answers to common questions regarding speech lisps, their causes, and the ways they differ from other speech impediments.

Can lisping be a sign of an underlying condition?

A lisp can occasionally indicate an underlying condition such as a tongue tie, where the strip of skin connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth is shorter than usual, interfering with speech. It might also be associated with a neurological or developmental condition.

How does a lisp affect pronunciation differently from other speech impediments?

A lisp primarily affects the pronunciation of sibilants (s, z, sh, zh, ch, j) and lingua-alveolar (t, d, n, l) sounds due to the tongue’s position in the mouth, which is different from impediments like stuttering that impact the flow of speech or articulation disorders that can involve a wider range of sounds.

At what age should parents refer their child to a speech pathologist for a lisp?

If your child continues to lisp beyond 4.5-5 years old, then you should consult a speech pathologist for a screening.