Different Types of Lisps and How to Treat Them

Lisps are common speech problems where a person has trouble pronouncing one or more consonant sounds. You may hear speech therapists and others refer to a lisp as a functional speech disorder (FSD).

What Is a Lisp?

A lisp is a speech impediment that affects a person’s ability to make “s” and “z” sounds. It occurs because of various problems with how the tongue moves when the person speaks.

Lisps most often develop in childhood and typically go away without treatment. However, some people have a lisp that persists. 

Understanding why some people have lisps starts with how the tongue and mouth work together to form sounds. In many cases, lisps happen due to tongue placement issues, oral muscle weakness, or learned speech patterns that interfere with normal pronunciation.

What Are the Most Common Types of Lisps?

The most common lisp types are:

• Frontal (or interdental) lisp. This type of lisp occurs when a person’s tongue is too far forward and pushes between the front teeth when pronouncing words containing “s” or “z.” As a result, the sound is more “th” in nature.
• Dentalized lisp. This lisp sounds like a frontal lisp but is caused by the tongue pressing against the front teeth.
• Lateral lisp. A lateral lisp has a hissing sound as if there is excess saliva in the mouth. It’s caused by extra air sliding over the tongue.
• Palatal lisp. This lisp type occurs when a person touches their tongue to the roof of their mouth when making “s” and “z” sounds.

What Causes a Lisp

• Being “tongue-tied” (a condition called ankyloglossia where tissue under the tongue restricts movement).
• Having a jaw alignment problem.
• Genetics and their effect on the development of the tongue and mouth structures may also be a factor in why some people have lisps.
• Mild hearing loss.
• Sometimes, a person learns an incorrect pronunciation of “s” and “z” sounds as a child.

Diagnosing a Lisp

Lisps in children typically resolve without treatment. However, if your child’s speech impediment hasn’t gone away as they approach age five, it’s a good idea to talk with your doctor and consider speech therapy. A speech-language pathologist can determine what type of lisp is present and recommend treatment.

What Is the Best Way to Fix a Lisp?

Speech therapy is highly effective in correcting lisps. The process may take a few months (for younger children) to a few years (for older children with a more established lisp), but it generally produces excellent results.

Treatment for a lisp typically involves:

• Helping the person hear what their lisp sounds like.
• Teaching them how to place their tongue to produce sounds correctly.
• Having them perform exercises like saying specific words or phrases containing the sounds.
• Engaging the person in conversations that challenge them to remember and use proper tongue placement.

How Can You Fix a Lisp as an Adult?

Yes, you can treat a lisp as an adult with proper guidance and consistent practice. While lisps are often addressed in childhood, adults can still make significant improvements by working with a speech-language pathologist who specializes in articulation disorders. A professional can identify the specific type of lisp and create a personalized treatment plan to retrain tongue placement and pronunciation.

If you’ve ever wondered how to stop talking with a lisp, regular speech exercises and increased awareness of tongue position can make a big difference. With dedication, adult patients can strengthen oral muscles, improve clarity, and gain confidence in their speech.

Can You Fix a Lisp at Home?

There are several things you can try at home to help manage or improve a lisp. These techniques can strengthen your tongue, increase awareness of how you form sounds, and reinforce what you may learn in therapy. However, these at-home exercises are not meant to replace speech therapy and should always be used alongside professional guidance from a speech-language pathologist.

• Practice saying “s” and “z” sounds slowly and clearly while watching your mouth in a mirror.
• Read aloud daily to build consistency and confidence in your speech.
• Record yourself speaking to identify which words or sounds need improvement.
• Use tongue placement exercises recommended by your speech therapist.
• Maintain proper posture and breathing while speaking to improve sound control.

These at-home practices can support your progress if you’re looking for how to get rid of a lisp at home, but professional support provides the most effective results.

Why Choose Baptist Health Speech Therapy for a Lisp?

At Baptist Health, our licensed speech-language pathologists provide compassionate, evidence-based care to help patients improve clarity, confidence, and communication. Whether your goal is to reduce or eliminate a lisp, our team tailors treatment plans to address your unique needs and ensure measurable progress. We combine proven techniques with one-on-one support to help you speak more clearly and comfortably.

Our comprehensive approach through Baptist Health’s Speech and Language services includes advanced diagnostic tools, personalized therapy sessions, and ongoing progress monitoring. Patients benefit from access to modern facilities and a collaborative team dedicated to long-term success.

Learn More About the Treatment of Lisps

If you or your child struggles with a lisp speech impediment, Baptist Health’s speech-language pathologists are here to help. Our team provides tailored evaluations and treatment plans to address the root cause of your lisp and support clear, confident communication.

Baptist Health offers convenient locations across Kentucky and Indiana. If you or someone you love is seeking speech therapy for a lisp, our speech-language therapy providers can help you take the next step toward clearer communication. Call us at 502.962.2400 or find a Baptist Health speech language therapy location near you.

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