A lisp is defined as a functional speech disorder in which the afflicted person has difficulty to make specific speech sounds, example sounds of sibilant consonant like – S and Z. The word “ functional” signifies the unknown cause of the disorder. This speech disorder may prevalent into adulthood as “residual errors”. The speech difficulty in a child affected with this disorder happens at a phonetic level. According to international terminology, voice disorders are categorized as dysphonia. Children can have a developmental phonological disorder as well as functional speech disorder.
Occurrence in the US:
About one in six people in united states have got a problem with their communication skills. That is approximately 42 million adults and children. Functional speech disorders such as lisping affects around 10% of the population out of which 8-9% need to get treatment.
Symptoms Of Lisp Speech Disorders:
Any structural deformities present in the palate, teeth or tongue may cause lisping but they are not the definite causes. It is also generalised with immature development. Some children do it intentionally to grab other’s attention. Other children begin to lisp when they get exposed to some kind of trauma or stress. It is also suggested that lisping occurs due to tongue thrusting which is a physiological behaviour. It causes tongue flattening and protrusion while swallowing and speaking.
Types Of Lisp Speech Disorders:
There are four types of lisp speech disorders. They are-
- Palatal lisp: Middle of the tongue touches the roof of the mouth while trying to produce the sound, S.
- Lateral lisp: Tongue position is in the same place while producing L sound, but it sounds wet or slushy while making the S sound.
- Dentalized lisp/production: Happens when the tongue pushes against the front teeth.
- Interdental lisp: Happens when the tongue protrudes between the front teeth resulting in producing a sound ‘th’ instead of S or Z.
Treatment Of Lisp Speech Disorders:
Mostly articulation therapy is used. The speech language therapist determines whether the affected child can hear proper speech sounds and identifies the words with specific sounds that the child is having difficulty to articulate. The SLP then proceeds to work on the position in the words where the sound is first generated. Then specific word exercises are carried out. The final step takes place when the child initiates a casual conversation.
