According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, around 23% of people are affected by a speech impediment known as a lisp at some point in their lifetime. This statistic means that lisps are incredibly common, but even with that fact, there still lacks a general public understanding of what this speech impediment is and the methods to help mitigate it, such as speech therapy. If you or someone you know has a lisp, here's some more information on the disorder. 

What Is a Lisp?

A lisp is a type of speech impediment that impacts a person's ability to speak clearly and effectively. The causes of this disorder are not entirely known. Some people speculate that it's a result of a particular kind of child-rearing, while those who specialize in speech therapy tend to find tongue placement or jaw alignment as the most likely causes. 

What Are the Different Types?

There are four different types of lisps. The most commonly thought of category is a frontal lisp, which occurs when a person pushes their tongue too far forward, making a "th" sound where a "z" or "s" should be. Similarly, in the realm of tongue placement, there's the lateral lisp, which occurs when air slips out and over the sides of the tongue, making the "s" and "z" sound saliva filled. 

A palatal lisp occurs when the tongue touches the roof of the mouth, usually with the letters "z," "s," or "r." Lastly, a dental lisp sounds similar to a frontal one, but instead of the tongue extending beyond the teeth, a person pushes the tip of their tongue against the back of their front teeth, eliciting a similar sound. 

How Can People Get Help?

Speech therapy can help remedy any lisp category. Many people need to be shown the proper placement of their tongue or need to be made aware of how their tongue moves to correct their own speech. It's important to approach speech therapy with patience and kindness, especially with the negative stigmas that surround these disorders.

For compassionate, experienced speech therapy in Acadia County, turn to The Road Home Therapy Center. Located in Church Point, LA, this clinic has served the greater Lafayette and Opelousas communities since 1978, offering an array of services including short-term, occupational, physical, and speech therapy. Call (337) 684-6318 to speak with a friendly team member to schedule an appointment. You can also visit the website to learn more about speech services.