What Parents Need to Know About Lisps: Signs Your Child May Benefit from Speech Therapy
If you've landed here, chances are you've started noticing your child's speech sounds a little different. Maybe they say "thun" instead of "sun," or perhaps their /s/ sounds seem slushy or unclear. You may be wondering whether it's something they'll outgrow or whether it's time to have it checked out.
The good news is that lisps are one of the most common speech concerns we evaluate, and they're highly treatable! While some lisps may be a part of speech development, others benefit from intervention.
In this post, we'll explain what a lisp is, the different types of lisps, and the signs that it may be time to schedule a speech evaluation.
What Is a Lisp?
A lisp is a type of speech sound disorder that most commonly affects the production of the /s/ and /z/ sounds. Depending on the type of lisp, it may also affect "sh," "ch," and "j." Surprisingly, not all lisps sound the same! Some children produce their sounds with their tongue between their teeth, while others have a "slushy" or less precise sound.
What Causes a Lisp?
There isn't one single cause of a lisp. For some children, a lisp may be related to oral habits, tongue positioning, or differences in oral muscle coordination. Factors such as prolonged thumb sucking, extended pacifier use, tongue-tie, and oral myofunctional differences may contribute in some cases.
Most importantly, a lisp is usually not caused by anything a parent or caregiver did. Every child is different, and the best way to understand why a lisp is occurring is through a comprehensive speech evaluation. An evaluation helps identify contributing factors and provides individualized recommendations for treatment, if needed.
The Different Types of Lisps
Not all lisps sound the same. Identifying the type of lisp your child has helps determine whether it's part of typical speech development or whether speech therapy may be beneficial.
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This is the type of lisp you may think of when you hear the word "lisp." With an interdental (or frontal) lisp, the tongue comes between the front teeth when producing sounds.
For example, "sun" may sound like "thun."
This is the most common type of lisp.
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A dentalized lisp is similar to an interdental lisp, but instead of coming between the teeth, the tongue pushes against the backs of the front teeth.
These speech sounds often sound "almost correct," but they may lack the crisp quality of a typical /s/ or /z/ sound.
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A lateral lisp occurs when air escapes over the sides of the tongue instead of flowing down the middle. This creates the characteristic "slushy" quality that many parents notice.
Unlike some frontal lisps in young children, a lateral lisp is never considered developmentally appropriate and should be evaluated by a speech-language pathologist.
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A palatal lisp occurs when the tongue contacts the roof of the mouth too far back during speech.
This is the least common type of lisp and typically requires speech therapy to establish correct tongue placement and sound production.
Understanding Speech Development
One of the most common questions parents ask is, "Will my child outgrow their lisp?" The answer isn't always straightforward and depends on your child's age, the type of lisp they have, and whether other oral motor or myofunctional differences are present.
As children develop speech and language, it's common for them to simplify certain speech sounds. A mild dentalized or interdental (frontal) lisp may be seen in younger children as they learn to produce /s/, /z/, "sh," "ch," and "j." By 4 years of age, these sounds are expected to be produced accurately.Explore more about speech sound milestones by age here.
Beyond speech sounds, we also look at overall oral function. Your child's tongue should rest inside their mouth, they should breathe comfortably through their nose during the day and while sleeping, and they should be able to eat and drink efficiently without relying on habits such as prolonged sippy cup use.
Lateral and palatal lisps are not part of the typical pattern of speech development and should be evaluated by a speech-language pathologist at any age.
Red Flags Parents Should Watch For
Consider scheduling an evaluation if:
Your child's speech is difficult for unfamiliar listeners to understand.
Your child has a lateral or "slushy" sounding lisp.
Teachers, caregivers, or family members have expressed concerns about your child's speech.
Your child's speech is affecting their confidence or participation at school, with friends, or during everyday conversations.
Your child has multiple speech sound errors, not just a lisp.
You're simply not sure whether your child's speech is developing as expected. Trust your instincts!
Answers Start with a Speech Evaluation
As speech patterns become more established, they can become more difficult to change which is why early identification is so important. If you have concerns about your child's speech, you don't need to wait! A comprehensive speech evaluation can help determine whether your child would benefit from therapy or if monitoring their speech development is the best next step.
A speech evaluation doesn't automatically mean your child needs therapy. If speech therapy is recommended, your child will learn the correct tongue placement for speech sounds and practice those sounds from isolation to conversation. If oral myofunctional differences are contributing to the lisp, therapy may also include strategies to improve oral resting posture, breathing patterns, and overall oral function. Throughout the process, you'll receive home practice activities to support your child's progress between sessions.
The best part? Therapy is fun! Every session is tailored to your child's interests and designed to keep them engaged through games, books, movement activities, challenges, and favorite characters or themes. Children learn best when they're engaged, and that's exactly what we strive for in every session.
Ready to take the next step? Contact us today to schedule a speech evaluation. We'd love to partner with your family and help your child communicate with confidence!
Interested in reading more about speech and oral development? Be sure to check out some of our other blog posts: