Do Children Naturally Outgrow Lisps?

It is common for parents to notice a lisp when their child begins speaking in complete sentences. They may say “thun” instead of “sun” or “thock” instead of “sock”. Parents may question: Will my child’s lisp go away on its own? and wonder when to seek help from a speech therapist.

What is a Lisp? 

A lisp is a type of articulation disorder where the individual has difficulty pronouncing the “s” and “z” sounds correctly. Instead of placing the tongue just behind the teeth when making those speech sounds, the child may push their tongue forward or to the side, creating a distorted speech letter sound. Lisping can be common in early speech development, but can also be acquired in other stages of life. 

There are multiple types of lisps, each affecting speech in a distinct way. Understanding the different types helps in diagnosing and treating the disorder. The most common types of lisps that affect children are:

• Interdental Lisp – The tongue pushes forward between the front teeth, making “s” and “z” sound like “th”. This is the most common type of lisp. 
• Dentalized Lisp – The tongue pushes against the front teeth, causing a muffled-sounding “s” and “z” sound.
• Lateral Lisp – Air exits the mouth out of the sides. This results in slushy or wet-sounding speech as the spoken sound mixes with the air and saliva. The lateral lisp is most famously depicted by cartoon characters such as Sylvester the Cat and Daffy Duck. 
• Palatal Lisp – The tongue touches the roof of the mouth, or the soft palate, when attempting to produce the “s” sound, distorting it. 

Why Does My Child Have a Lisp?

While there is no one-size-fits-all reason for a child having a lisp, several factors can contribute. 

• Normal speech development (when occurring under the age of 4)
• Oral habits such as thumb sucking or pacifier use
• Forward tongue movement during swallowing (tongue thrust)
• Hearing issues that affect the way sound is heard (and then reproduced)
• Oral structural abnormalities with the soft palate, tongue, and teeth, as well as the position of teeth. 

Can Lisps Go Away With Age?

“Can lisps go away with age?” is a common question that parents ask. The short answer is: sometimes - but not always. 

While children can outgrow certain speech sound and articulation errors, including lisps, it is not a guarantee. If lisping continues past 3-4 years old, it is best to seek guidance from a speech therapist. 

What Happens if a Lisp is Left Untreated

While some lisps may fade, many do not. This is particularly true if they persist past early childhood. An untreated lisp can:

• Negatively impact academic success
• Affect self-esteem
• Lead to teasing and bullying
• Cause the child to isolate from peers
• Lead to difficulty in oral presentations as well as job interviews later in life

Adults with untreated lisps often report wishing they had received help earlier. Early intervention can prevent long-term negative impacts.

Will My Child’s Lisp Go Away on Its Own?

There is no guarantee that a child’s lisp will go away on its own. A frontal lisp may be developmentally normal until ages 3-4; however, lateral lisps are not typical. 

While you may be hoping for a wait-and-see approach, the longer a lisp persists, the more ingrained it can become in your child’s speech patterns. This can make it more difficult to correct later on and also may begin to affect their confidence as well as academic success. 

Treatment for a childhood lisp often includes seeking help from a speech therapist. You can read further about speech therapy activities for lisps in our blog titled: Speech Therapy for Kids with Lisps.

When To See a Speech Therapist For a Lisp

If you’re wondering when to seek help from a speech therapist for a lisp, consider the following:

• Child is over the age of 4 and still lisps
• The lisp affects the child’s ability to be understood by others
• Child shows signs of frustration when speaking
• Child avoids saying certain hard-to-pronounce words
• You notice social or emotional impacts, such as embarrassment or teasing
• The lisp seems to be getting worse, not better
• The child has difficulty with other speech sounds as well

Speech therapists are trained to assess whether your child’s lisp is developmentally appropriate. If it is not, they can create a personalized treatment plan to help correct it. 

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