Let’s chat about lisps!

Here are some of the most common questions we get from concerned parents.

Q: I’ve heard that a lisp is normal. Is it?

A: Yes and no. A lisp is a common speech sound substitution, there are two types.

A lateral lisp is when air shoots out the sides of the mouth making a slushy sound. This type of lisp is atypical and requires speech therapy to treat.

An anterior lisp is when air shoots out the front of the mouth and the tongue protrudes between the teeth. This type is developmental and normal until the age of 4-5, if the lisp continues past this age then treatment is recommended.

Also, many children with a lisp also have a tongue thrust swallow pattern and need this addressed as well.

Q: When should we begin to address my child’s lisp?

A: Some kids are mature enough to address it at age 4 but many need time to mature. At the latest, it should get corrected by age 6. 

Q: How does a speech therapist correct a lisp? Can we do this at home?

A: The parent does play a vital role in supporting their child in therapy by practicing a therapist’s home program, but would not be able to correct a lisp solely with knowledge obtained from a source such as the internet. To correct the lisp correctly the clinician must address jaw stability. Often, a therapist will only teach "keep the tongue in the cage." However, it is equally important to make sure there is a slight space between the teeth (no clenching the jaw) otherwise the skill to correct the lisp cannot become part the child’s everyday life as the jaw is not fast enough without stability correction. A skilled therapist, in conjunction with the support from caregivers, can help a child overcome a lisp!

Q: Does my child need a referral to a speech therapist for his lisp?

A: No, a speech therapist can evaluate and provide a recommendation of treatment without a referral. However, your child does need to have a pediatrician or primary care provider that we can correspond with for plan of care approval.

Q: Is therapy for a lisp covered by insurance?

A: Generally, yes! We have a finance team who provides out of pocket estimates for every family before evaluations and before therapy begins.

If your child has a lisp and is over the age of 4, give Chatterbox a call to discuss undergoing an evaluation with a speech therapist. Each child is unique, and your child may or may not be at the right stage to begin to address this speech sound error. Let’s find out!