You may be wondering whether you can correct a lisp on your own. The answer is not simple. Many factors can affect speech, and speech therapists have specialized training to identify and treat articulation disorders such as lisps. Trying to correct a lisp without a speech therapist’s guidance can actually make it worse.
Key takeaways
- A person with a lisp has trouble pronouncing the /s/ and /z/ sounds because of incorrect tongue position and movement.
- Both children and adults can correct a lisp. With speech therapy, many people make major improvements in their ability to speak clearly.
- The best way to correct a lisp is to work with a licensed speech therapist. During lisp therapy, you will learn the tongue placement needed to pronounce the /s/ sound correctly at different levels of speech.
- Although you may be tempted to work on a lisp by yourself, guidance from a speech therapist is important. It can help you avoid making the lisp worse or creating new speech problems.
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What causes a lisp?
A lisp is an incorrect production of the /s/ and /z/ sounds. It results from an incorrect motor pattern involving tongue position and movement.
When someone has a lisp, their tongue is positioned in a way that blocks the airflow needed to produce /s/ and /z/. This altered airflow creates the characteristic lisping sound.
Accurate articulation helps people communicate clearly. The /s/ and /z/ sounds also appear frequently in English. A lisp may make someone feel self-conscious and create challenges in social or professional settings.
Can a lisp be corrected?
The good news is that a lisp can be corrected at any age, even in adulthood. With the right speech therapy, many people make major gains in their ability to speak clearly. A speech therapist will evaluate and determine:
- Whether a lisp is present and, if so, which type of lisp it is
- Possible causes or underlying factors, such as a tongue thrust, hearing loss, or structural differences in the mouth
- Your personal speech goals
Using this information, a speech therapist can develop an individualized treatment plan to address your speech challenges, identify and correct sounds you are producing incorrectly, and help you reach your goals. They should also provide personalized activities to practice at home between sessions and support your progress.
What is the best way to correct a lisp?
The best way to correct a lisp is to work with a licensed speech therapist. In lisp therapy, you will learn to pronounce the /s/ sound correctly at different levels of speech, following a specific sequence designed to help you succeed.
You might begin by producing the sound on its own, then move to using it in words and, later, sentences. As you become ready, your speech therapist will guide you through increasingly complex practice. They will use their clinical judgment to help you progress as quickly as possible.
Understanding how the mouth moves to form sounds is a foundational skill for producing speech sounds accurately.
Understanding how the mouth moves to form sounds is a foundational skill for producing speech sounds accurately. Your speech therapist will likely begin by teaching you the correct tongue position, both at rest and during speech. A typical resting tongue posture looks like this:
- The tongue is lightly suctioned to the roof of the mouth, with its tip resting on the alveolar ridge rather than against the backs of the teeth.
- The jaw is relaxed, and the lips are closed.
- Breathing occurs through the nose.
You will also learn how to position and move your tongue muscles to produce clear /s/ and /z/ sounds. Your speech therapist can draw from a variety of teaching techniques.
To produce /s/, the tip of the tongue should barely touch the bumpy area behind the upper front teeth. The sides of the tongue should lift enough to touch the insides of the upper back molars. Air should flow only through the front of the mouth. The voice remains off, which means the vocal cords do not vibrate, creating a quiet sound.
Speech therapy practice is repetitive because repetition helps you learn the correct motor pattern for accurately producing the /s/ and /z/ sounds.
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Can you train yourself out of a lisp?
Practicing at home between sessions is a major part of successful speech therapy. However, you need to practice correctly and under a speech therapist’s guidance. If you practice a sound incorrectly or at a level that is too advanced for you, you may develop an incorrect motor pattern. You would then have to unlearn that pattern before you could produce the sound correctly.
Correct practice is essential to avoid worsening the lisp or creating new speech problems.
With so many online videos and resources available, trying to correct a lisp on your own may seem appealing. However, correct practice is essential to avoid making the lisp worse or creating new problems. Having a speech therapist oversee the process gives you the best chance of practicing appropriately.
When to see a speech therapist about a lisp
Most adults are aware of their speech and how they communicate. Still, speech affects each person’s social life and career differently. Lisping is not necessarily negative. In fact, some adults celebrate their lisp.
Choosing speech therapy for a lisp should be something you are genuinely motivated to do. If you want to change the way you speak, schedule an evaluation with a speech therapist as your next step. No matter how long you have had a lisp, it is never too late to correct it.
At Astrel, we have helped people of all ages correct their lisps and speak more clearly. Our goal is to empower you while supporting your individual needs. Your speech therapist works alongside you, helping you pursue goals that matter to you. If you want to learn strategies for correcting your lisp, speech therapy may be right for you.
Frequently asked questions about lisps
What causes a lisp in adults?
Adults may have a lisp for several reasons, including tongue placement learned incorrectly during childhood, a history of tongue thrust, a tongue tie, or differences in jaw alignment. Some adults simply did not receive treatment as children. If a lisp is affecting your speech clarity or confidence, consider contacting a speech therapist for an evaluation to explore your options.
Can a lisp go away on its own?
Some people outgrow a lisp. However, if a child’s lisp continues past age 5, speech therapy may be needed to correct it.
Can you correct a lisp on your own?
Some mild interdental lisps can improve with focused practice and visual feedback, such as watching your tongue placement in a mirror or trying the “exploding /t/” technique. However, many people need speech therapy to change long-standing speech habits.
Does insurance cover speech therapy for adults with a lisp?
Coverage depends on your insurance plan and whether the lisp is considered medically necessary. Coverage is more common for children, particularly when a lisp affects speech clarity or development. Some plans may not cover treatment for adults when the main reasons are cosmetic or related to confidence. Call your insurer directly or ask a speech therapy provider to help verify your benefits.