Understanding Lisps: How Speech Pathologists can help
In this resource article, we will explore what a lisp is and how a speech pathologist can assist in assessment and intervention.
Communication is an essential aspect of our daily lives, enabling us to express ourselves and connect with others. However, for individuals with a lisp, a speech disorder characterised by difficulty pronouncing certain sounds, and verbal expression can become a source of frustration and self-consciousness. Fortunately, speech pathologists are trained professionals who specialise in diagnosing and treating communication disorders, including lisps. In this blog post, we will explore what a lisp is and how speech pathologists can help individuals remediate this speech difficulty.
What is a Lisp?
A lisp is a speech disorder characterised by difficulties in producing specific sounds, particularly the "s" and "z" sounds but may include “sh”, “ch” and “dg”. People with a lisp may substitute these sounds with other sounds or produce them in a distorted manner. Lisps can manifest in different ways, such as a frontal or interdental lisp and a lateral lisp.
Frontal or interdental lisp - where the tongue protrudes between the front teeth. Sounds such as ‘s’ or ‘z’ are often produced more like a ‘th’.
Lateral lisp - where air escapes over the sides of the tongue. Sounds such as "s", "z", “sh”, “ch” and “dg” are often produced in this manner, often described as sounding ‘slushy’.
How Can a Speech Pathologist Help?
Speech pathologists, also known as speech therapists, are highly trained professionals who play a vital role in evaluating and treating communication disorders. When it comes to lisps, speech pathologists employ various techniques and strategies to help individuals improve their speech and communication skills. Here's how they can assist:
Evaluation: A speech pathologist will conduct a comprehensive evaluation to assess the type and severity of the lisp. They will also consider other factors such as oral muscle coordination, breathing patterns, and overall speech development. Through this evaluation, the speech pathologist can identify the specific challenges and develop an individualised treatment plan.
Diagnosis and Goal Setting: Based on the evaluation, the speech pathologist will make a diagnosis and establish specific goals for therapy. These goals will be tailored to the individual's needs and may include correcting the production of specific sounds, improving overall articulation, or enhancing speech intelligibility. Clear goals serve as a roadmap for therapy sessions.
Individualised Therapy: Speech pathologists develop customised therapy plans based on the individual's unique needs. Therapy sessions may involve a combination of techniques and exercises to address the specific aspects of speech affected by the lisp. These techniques may include teaching proper tongue and lip placement, phonetic shaping and cognitive reframing.
Articulation Practice: Speech pathologists guide individuals through targeted practice of problem sounds. By using drills and activities, they help individuals develop accurate production of the correct sounds. These practices often involve repetition, modelling, and feedback to establish proper speech habits.
Communication Strategies: In addition to sound production techniques, speech pathologists provide strategies to enhance overall communication skills. This may involve teaching breath control, pacing, and rhythm, as well as addressing any associated language or social communication difficulties. These strategies empower individuals to communicate effectively in various situations.
Home Practice: To reinforce progress, speech pathologists provide individuals with exercises and activities to practise at home. Consistent practice between therapy sessions is crucial for generalising skills and achieving long-term improvement. Practising at home also involves the engagement and support of family members or caregivers.
Lisps can significantly impact an individual's confidence and ability to communicate effectively. The journey to remediate a lisp may require time and effort, but with the support of a speech pathologist, individuals can gain the tools and confidence to express themselves fluently and independently.
At Wonder Words Speech Pathology, we have a number of therapists who are trained in how to remediate a lisp. Here is how they incorporate our values into their therapy:
We Find the Fun:
Incorporating the value of "We find the fun" in therapy when remediating a lisp involves making the treatment sessions engaging and enjoyable for the child. Our speech-language pathologists will utilise a variety of games, toys and activities in which we embed our therapy goals and targets into. In doing so, therapy sessions become a fun experience for the child, and increase their motivation to participate in sessions.
We Hustle:
The value of "We hustle '' aligns with the dedication our speech pathologists provide when working with a child who has a lisp and their family. Our speech pathologists work alongside care-givers and children to provide education about what a lisp is, correct tongue placement, how to remediate this and how to support care-givers in implementing frequent and correct practice at home, ensuring we are following motor learning principles.
We Respect and Connect:
Respecting and connecting with the child is essential when implementing speech therapy, specifically when targeting a lisp. Our speech-language pathologists prioritise building a strong rapport with the child, creating a safe and supportive space for them to express themselves independently during sessions. In doing so, this ensures children are engaged and happy to participate in sessions, and get the best possible outcomes. In establishing a meaningful relationship with the child, a positive therapeutic relationship is developed throughout sessions.
We're in it Together:
The value of "We're in it together" perfectly describes the collaborative nature in how we work with our care-givers when remediating a lisp. We work alongside care-givers to provide education and support. This includes supporting parents in their skills in hearing the difference between a lisp production and a target production, the specific feedback to use and how to implement practice at home. We work closely with our families to ensure we can get the most out of each child and how to make home practice work for their lifestyle. Together, they form a team, collaborating to get the best outcome from the child.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns regarding any speech sound errors or a lisp.
