Call (03) 7023 7910
A little girl in front of a woman.

What is a lisp?

October 10, 2023

A lisp is a type of speech sound disorder characterized by the mispronunciation of sibilant sounds, which are consonant sounds produced by directing a stream of air over the tongue and through a groove in the teeth. The main sibilant sounds in English are:

  • S
  • Z
  • Sh
  • Zh
  • Ch
  • J

Children with a lisp will mispronounce these sounds in one of two ways:

Interdental lisp

With an interdental lisp, the tip of the tongue protrudes between the front teeth during speech. This causes ‘s’ sounds to be pronounced ‘th’ so ‘sun’ becomes ‘thun’. [1]

Lateral lisp

In a lateral lisp, air escapes over the sides of the tongue so ‘s’ sounds become ‘sl’ sounds. ‘Sun’ becomes ‘slun’. A lateral lisp may affect ‘s’, ‘z’, ‘sh’, ‘ch’, and ‘j’ sounds. [2]

Causes

There are several possible causes of a lisp:

  • Normal speech development – Many toddlers will naturally go through a stage of lisping as they learn to coordinate the complex mouth movements required for speech. This usually resolves on its own by age 3-4. [1]
  • Dental issues – Gaps between teeth, missing teeth, or misaligned teeth can cause a lisp. Braces may temporarily cause lisping too. [1]
  • Oral structure – Some children may have a tongue-tie or small jaw that makes proper tongue placement difficult. [2]
  • Neurological issues – Conditions like cerebral palsy, hearing impairment, or cleft palate can contribute to speech difficulties. [3]
  • Behavioural habits – Thumb sucking or tongue thrusting can encourage fronted tongue placement. [2]

If the lisp persists past age 3-4 with no dental or structural cause, it is likely a speech sound disorder that requires speech therapy. [1]

Effects

A persistent lisp can lead to:

  • Difficulty communicating clearly[3]
  • Frustration, shyness, or embarrassment[4]
  • Teasing from peers[4]
  • Lower self-esteem[4]

This may cause some children to avoid speaking. Early treatment is recommended to prevent any negative social or emotional consequences. [3]

Treatment

Speech therapy is the main treatment for lisping. A speech-language pathologist will work with the child on:

  • Tongue, lip, and jaw exercises to improve coordination[1]
  • Correct tongue placement for sibilants[2]
  • Practice words, phrases, sentences with target sounds[3]
  • Generalizing sounds to everyday speech[3]

With consistent speech therapy, most children can overcome a lisp. Treatment is easier the earlier it starts. Early intervention for speech issues is recommended whenever possible. [4]

Summary

A lisp is a common speech disorder affecting sibilant sounds like ‘s’ and ‘z’. It can be caused by normal development, dental issues, oral structure, or neurological conditions. Persistent lisping should be evaluated by a speech-language pathologist. With consistent speech therapy, a lisp can usually be resolved successfully. Early treatment leads to the best outcomes.

Citations:
[1] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37225162/
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8913509/
[3] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33909759/
[4] https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/ee890cbc1dd571de7c5169a5eebd9b474fe62df2
[5] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22895931/
[6] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34235982/
[7] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5748941/
[8] https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/5b06326c167033d1a1344c8f1bb16068a4eb7de8

Domain Health

Domain Health

At Domain Health, we're all about you and your health. We're a multidisciplinary clinic that's got your back (and your overall health) covered. So, why wait? Let's start this journey to wellness together, today.

Our latest blogs

Domain Health therapists sitting at a table with laptops in front of them.

Book An Appointment

Our response time is impressive

Contact Form

Or

Call (03) 7023 7910
Book an appointment with our team

Say Hello

Call us (03) 7023 7910

We’re Super Responsive.

Booking form