Speech Therapy for Kids with Lisps
Lisps are among the most commonly treated speech problems by speech and language pathologists. The term “lisp” refers to the inability to clearly and easily produce specific speech sounds. Lisps are a type of functional speech disorder that is commonly identified in young children. Current research suggests that 23% of Americans will speak with a lisp at some point.
Lisps are so common, in fact, that they are considered a normal and universal part of speech and language development in children. In some cases, children will overcome a lisp on their own as their speech skills improve. In other instances, speech therapy is required to help the child learn to accurately produce “s” and “z” sounds.
Speech therapy provides tailored support to children of all ages who are developing their communication skills. Experts agree that working with a speech and language pathologist provides important benefits for children, even those who are on track with their speech and language development. If you want to learn more about whether speech therapy might be right for your child, connect with us by scheduling your free introductory call today!
What Causes Lisps?
In most cases, lisps are caused by improper placement of the tongue, lips, or jaw. When these parts, known as the articulators, aren’t in their proper place, it can cause errors when the child is speaking, making speech unclear and difficult to understand.
A lisp differs from other forms of speech sound disorders as it has a phonetic origin as opposed to a linguistic one. Some children have a phonological disorder, which impacts their ability to differentiate between speech sounds. The problem is not with their ability to produce the sounds, but they are still learning to distinguish between two sounds and may use those sounds interchangeably. It is relatively common for a child to experience both a phonological speech sound disorder and a functional or phonetic speech sound disorder.
Sometimes, a lisp develops as a result of physiological differences. Conditions such as enlarged tonsils, nasal obstructions, dental issues, tongue ties, or jaw misalignment can also contribute to the development of a lisp.
Experts agree that there is almost always a genetic component to lisping in children. Genes dictate the shape of the jaw and dental structures, among other things. Some children develop a “tongue thrust,” which causes them to push their tongue forward, causing an overbite which can affect speech production.
Some things can cause a temporary lisp, such as when a child loses their front teeth. In these instances, the lisp typically resolves when the child gets their adult teeth.
Does a Child with a Lisp Need Speech Therapy?
As mentioned above, speaking with a lisp is often a normal part of speech development in young children and, in some cases, will resolve without treatment. Speech and language pathologists suggest that if the lisp persists beyond the age of 4 and a half, it is important to seek treatment.
How to Help a Child Stop Lisping?
Speech therapy for child lisping involves establishing a hierarchy of skills to improve speech production and clarity. The speech therapist will begin by modeling proper tongue placement and encouraging the child to produce the challenging sounds in isolation. Once the child can correctly produce a “s” and “z” sound on its own, the speech therapist will start to build on this by modeling short and simple words that contain the sound. As speech therapy treatment continues and proper tongue, lip and jaw placement is established, the speech and language pathologist continues to build on these skills and increase the difficulty and complexity of words and sound combinations.
Speech therapy for lisps uses a combination of visual cues, verbal cues (such as verbal instructions and modeling of the sounds), and tactile cues (showing correct tongue, lip, and jaw placement through touch.) If you think your child might benefit from speech therapy, getting started is as easy as scheduling your free introductory call today!
What are the Speech Therapy Activities for Lisps?
While speech therapy offers the best support for children who have a lisp, there are some activities that can be done at home to help improve speech clarity. Some of the best speech therapy activities for lisps include:
Nose Breathing Practice: It is important to encourage the child to breathe through their nose instead of their mouth to promote proper tongue positioning. This is a simple practice that involves taking slow and deliberate breaths through the nose for a few minutes each day.
Mirror Technique: Using a mirror to establish proper tongue, lip, and jaw placement can be very helpful. Have your child stand in front of a mirror with you behind them. Ask your child to smile and then produce a “s” sound while making sure their tongue remains behind their front teeth.
Sentence Creation Practice: The purpose of this activity is to form sentences that contain words with the target sound with the goal of enhancing speech fluency and clarity. This activity is best done once the child can correctly produce the target sound in isolation and within individual words. Create a simple sentence such as “On Sunday, the stars were so shiny!” The sillier and more fun the sentences are, the more your child will engage and enjoy the activity.
In addition to the activities above, engaging in basic conversations with your child every day can help to build their speech skills and increase their confidence. These exercises are most effective when used in combination with speech therapy through an experienced and knowledgeable speech and language pathologist. Don’t wait to set your child up for communication success; get started by scheduling your free introductory call today!