Q&A

Subject: 15 yr old with lisp

From: DM

My son is 15 years old and has had a slight lisp all his life. Lately, it has been bothering him and is affecting his self-esteem. What can be done about this?

Dear D,

Lisping can indeed be embarrassing, especially to a teen, since it is often perceived as "baby talk." It is sometimes related to dental problems like an overbite which makes it difficult to get your mouth organized to produce the /s/ family of sounds. If all is in order "dentally" then I would consult with the speech pathologist at his school. She (or he) may be able to arrange therapy during the school day.

If those services conflict with his academic schedule, private therapy is in order. Your school therapist may be able to recommend someone or you can query the American Speech-Language Hearing Association on the internet (www.asha.org). ASHA is the national credentialing agency for the field of speech pathology and they can refer you to local practitioners. These services are sometimes covered by insurance so you might want to check that aspect. If covered, your insurance company is another referral source. In our area, speech therapy services, when covered, must usually be pre authorized. Give your son lots of encouragement. It is very hard to change a lifelong habit but well worth the effort!

Good luck!!
Solveig