Treating Lisps With Speech Therapy
If you know someone who has a lisp, or if you have a lisp yourself, you know how frustrating it can be. Not only does this speech impediment make it hard for you to communicate clearly, but it can be embarrassing, and limit your social interaction overall because you’re embarrassed about your speech.
A “lisp” is a speech condition in which “s” is pronounced “th” as in “the” and “z” is pronounced “th” as in “teeth.” This may be a minor condition, in which the lisp is barely noticeable, or it can be much more pronounced. Children with one or two teeth missing often lisp, but people who mispronounce those sounds with all of their teeth have a lisp, which can be corrected.
Most people with a lisp think first of going to a speech therapist. Generalized speech therapists have long been the primary source of treatment for lisps and stuttering, but many people who speak with a lisp have found that a general speech therapist cannot help them as much as they had hoped.
These people often seek a specialist in lisping, who can employ advanced, specialized techniques to help their patients overcome lisps. Finding a local lisp therapist can be challenging. Your first step, of course, would be to ask your current speech therapist to recommend a specialist.
You may also check your local yellow pages, and call speech therapy centers in your area to ask if they specialize in lisps or have a lisp specialist on staff. If they do not, they may be able to recommend someone.
You might also want to search on Google for the terms “lisp specialist,” “lisp therapy,” “lisp advice,” “lisp course,” “lisp help” and your location. This will help you locate lisp therapists in your area, and may also uncover some home-study courses and speech courses you might find helpful.
Most people who speak with a lisp understand that no one notices it as much as they fear. They also understand that it doesn’t really matter who notices it, as much as it matters that they notice it and feel self-conscious about it. If your lisp bothers you, it doesn’t matter how other people feel about it. If you will feel better having your lisp treated and changing your speech, you should do it. It’s your decision in the end.
You may find that seeing a specialist in lisps works for you, or you may first want to try home study courses or group therapy or coaching that may help with your lisp. The most important thing you should do is go with what you feel will help, and find a solution that makes you feel comfortable. Whether you work with a therapist or work alone with a DVD or course, you will only get out of your lisp therapy what you are willing to give it. Make sure that the method you choose works for you, and that you commit to developing a speech pattern that you are comfortable with.