What is a lisp?
A lisp usually refers to a person having difficulty producing the /s/ and /z/ sound, however some children lisp on /sh/, /ch/ and /j/ as well. If a person lisps, he/she would distort one or many of those sounds.
Two types of Lisps
There are two different kinds of lisps. The first type of lisp is where the child sticks his/her tongue between his/her teeth to make the /s/ sound (e.g. “thun/sun”). This is called an interdental lisp. The second type is where the child does not lift the sides of his/her tongue up high enough which results in the air escaping into his/her cheeks. This type of lisp is a lateral lisp and the child often sounds “slushy”.
Is a lisp developmentally appropriate?
Many young children do present with interdental lisps and this is considered age appropriate until approximately 4-5 years of age. A lateral lisp, however, is never considered developmentally appropriate and a Speech-Language Pathologist should be consulted without delay.
If your child has an interdental lisp, here are a few things you can try at home.
-Have your child smile with his/her teeth together and have him/her blow (this should result in a /s/ sound).
-Have your child say the /t/ sounds multiple times in a row, followed by a long /t/ (e.g. t-t-t-t-ttttttttt). This should result in a /s/ sound).
If your child has a lateral lisp, here are a few things you can try at home.
-Have your child place a piece of tissue or a feather in front of his/her lips and encourage him/her to direct the air in that direction while saying the /s/ sound.
-Have your child say the /t/ sounds multiple times in a row, followed by a long /t/ (e.g. t-t-t-t-ttttttttt). This should result in a /s/ sound).
The above tips are merely suggestions and it is highly recommended that you seek support from a Speech-Language Pathologist especially for those children after the age of 5 who continue presenting with an interdental lisp and children of any age presenting with a lateral lisp. The older a child is when therapy begins, the more difficult it is to correct the error, as the sound in error is more habitual and automatic.
October 18, 2014
FAQs
Lisps often become noticeable after the age of 2, when children begin developing their language abilities. Both dentalized and interdental lisps are common and perfectly normal during a child's language development phase. Many children experience them until around 4½ years of age.
Is a lisp ever age appropriate? ›
While speaking with a lisp is relatively common and developmentally normal for children as they learn and grow in their speech abilities if a child's lisp persists beyond the age of three, speech therapy is recommended and if a lisp is present beyond the age of seven, this can be cause for some concern.
What is a lisps? ›
A lisp is a speech impediment that specifically relates to making the sounds associated with the letters S and Z. Lisps usually develop during childhood and often go away on their own. But some persist and require treatment.
What causes a child to have a lisp? ›
This can be either learned or the result of a tongue-tie or tongue-thrust. There are a few other things that can end up causing a lisp. Lisps can be caused by dental problems, such as overbites and narrow dental arches. They can be caused by jaw misalignment, as well as anatomical factors, such as an enlarged tongue.
Is it normal for a 12 year old to have a lisp? ›
Lisping can be common in small children as well as those who have lost their front teeth. However, if your child's lisp goes beyond their early elementary school years or starts to interfere with overall communication, it's important to see a speech therapist.
Is it normal for a 5 year old to have a lisp? ›
This happens with many children, and most will outgrow it by age 7 with no intervention at all. If your child is 7, though, you should get some professional help, since a lisp is a hard habit to break as a child gets older.
What is it called when you can't say "r"? ›
Difficulty pronouncing the /r/ sound is known as rhotacism and it is customarily considered to be a speech impediment. Rhotacism is very common among children because /r/ is one of the most challenging sounds to pronounce in the English language.
Is a lisp a mental disorder? ›
Is a lisp a mental disorder? Like other functional speech disorders, the cause of lisps isn't always known. In these cases, a lisp would be classified as a speech delay or disorder with an unknown origin.
Can lisp be cured? ›
Through a detailed speech evaluation, the speech therapist can determine which type of lisp a person has: lateral, interdental, dentalized, or palatal. The speech therapist will then create a specific, personalized program to help target placement of the tongue. A lisp can be corrected at any age!
Is a lisp autism? ›
A lisp is a specific type of articulation problem seen in people who replace the “s” or “z” sound with a “th.” A disorder on the Autistic Spectrum. Generally considered “milder” or more “high-functioning” than classic autism.
This may help the child learn how to correctly produce the sound. For palatal lisps, one technique is to have the child place their tongue on the roof of their mouth. Next, slowly move it forward and say /s/ and /z/ sounds. This may help the child learn how to correctly produce the sound.
Can braces fix a lisp? ›
Orthodontic Treatment Can Help Fix Speech Impediments
If you've struggled with a lisp or if certain sounds start with a whistle, this may mean you have an overbite or have gaps in your teeth. When upper teeth overlap the bottom teeth too much it can keep your tongue from finding the correct placement in your mouth.
What are the 4 types of lisps? ›
This common type of functional speech disorder affects many children and adults. Usually, the lisp develops in early childhood and goes away on its own as the child grows up, but some people have a lisp throughout their lives. There are 4 types of lisps: interdental, lateral, dentalized, and palatal.
Why am I suddenly lisping? ›
Sudden speech problems can be caused by stress and exhaustion, excess alcohol consumption, stroke, migraines, neurological disorders or certain medications.
Can you get rid of a lisp at 14? ›
Lisping can occur in both children and adults. Many adults have a residual problem that has persisted since childhood. Fortunately, most people with a lisp can be successfully treated with speech therapy. Speech therapy for a lisp aims to help the individual learn how to produce speech sounds correctly.
Is A lisp Autistic? ›
A lisp is a specific type of articulation problem seen in people who replace the “s” or “z” sound with a “th.” A disorder on the Autistic Spectrum. Generally considered “milder” or more “high-functioning” than classic autism.
Why does my 4 year old have a lisp? ›
A lisp is very common in toddlers and nothing to worry about. It may be more common in children who suck their thumbs or a pacifier. By the age of 4 or 5, it would be a good idea to get some help from a speech pathologist and start working on it because it can persist into adulthood if ignored past that time.
