How to Get Rid of a Lisp: The Complete Guide for Children and Adults

Author / Clinical Reviewer Byline: Written by MDD Speech Therapy Team | Medically Reviewed by Margaret Danda-Daoust, Registered Speech-Language Pathologist (Reg. CASLPO)

If you or your child struggle with speech clarity, learning how to get rid of a lisp can feel like an overwhelming journey, but it is entirely achievable with the right guidance. A lisp is one of the most common speech articulation challenges, affecting how people pronounce sibilant sounds like /s/ and /z/. Whether you are an adult hoping to speak with greater clarity in your professional life or a parent concerned about your young child’s speech development, this comprehensive guide will break down the exact clinical techniques, home exercises, and professional strategies needed to eliminate a lisp once and for all.

What Is a Lisp and Why Does It Happen?

A lisp is a functional speech sound disorder characterized by the mispronunciation of specific consonant sounds, most notably the /s/ and /z/ sounds, though it can sometimes affect /sh/, /ch/, and /j/. Instead of a crisp, clear stream of air moving down the center of the tongue, the airflow is impeded, misdirected, or blocked, resulting in a distorted acoustic sound.

Speech Articulation and Tongue Placement

To understand why a lisp happens, it helps to understand what a clear /s/ sound requires. Producing a crisp /s/ sound requires remarkable precision from your vocal articulators:

1. Tongue Tip Posture: The tip of your tongue must rest lightly near the alveolar ridge (the bumpy ridge on the roof of your mouth right behind your upper front teeth) without pushing against or poking through the teeth. Alternatively, some speakers produce a clear /s/ with the tongue tip pointing down behind the lower front teeth while the tongue blade arches upward.
2. Lateral Anchorage: The sides (lateral borders) of your tongue must make contact with your upper back molars. This creates a seal that prevents air from escaping into the sides of your cheeks.
3. Midline Groove: The tongue forms a narrow central channel down its center, directing a continuous stream of forced air directly toward the edge of your front teeth.

When any part of this delicate physical setup breaks down, a lisp occurs.

Common Causes of Lisps in Children and Adults (Tongue Thrust, Anatomy, and Habit)

Lisps rarely develop out of nowhere. They stem from a variety of anatomical, physiological, or behavioral factors:

• Tongue Thrust (Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders – OMDs): This occurs when the tongue pushes forward against or between the front teeth during swallowing, resting, and speaking. Over time, this resting habit trains the tongue to move forward during speech.
• Anatomical & Dental Factors: Structural differences such as a high, narrow hard palate, an open bite, misaligned teeth (malocclusion), or a restrictive lingual frenulum (tongue-tie or ankyloglossia) can make ideal tongue positioning difficult.
• Habitual Motor Patterns: In many cases, a child develops a temporary speech placement error while learning to talk. If this pattern isn’t outgrown or corrected early, muscle memory reinforces it, carrying the lisp into adolescence and adulthood.
• Auditory Discrimination Barriers: Some individuals have difficulty hearing the subtle acoustic difference between a correct /s/ sound and a distorted one, making self-correction challenging without visual and tactile feedback.

The 4 Types of Lisps (And How They Sound)

Not all lisps are created equal. In clinical speech pathology, lisps are categorized into four distinct types based on tongue placement and airflow direction.

Lisp Type	Tongue Placement	Acoustic Sound / Distortion	Is It Developmental?
Interdental (Frontal)	Tongue protrudes between upper and lower front teeth.	/s/ and /z/ sound like “th” (“sun” sounds like “thun”).	Yes (Normal in toddlers up to age 4–5).
Dentalized	Tongue tip pushes hard against the back of upper front teeth.	Muffled, dull, or “th-like” sound, but tongue stays inside teeth.	Yes (Common in early speech development).
Lateral	Tongue lies flat; air escapes over the sides into cheek pockets.	“Wet,” “slushy,” or “gurgly” sound; resembles a wet squirt of air.	No (Never developmental; requires intervention).
Palatal	Mid-body of the tongue contacts or arches back toward the hard palate.	Sounds like a hybrid between /s/ and /hy/ or a soft /sh/.	No (Uncommon; indicates structural or motor placement error).

Interdental (Frontal) Lisp

The interdental lisp, often called a frontal lisp is the most widely recognized type. During speech, the tongue sticks directly out between the front incisors. Because the tongue blocks the exit path of the air, the crisp /s/ sound transforms into a soft “th” sound. For example, “I saw a zebra at the zoo” becomes “I thaw a thebra at the thoo.”

Dentalized Lisp

A dentalized lisp is closely related to the interdental lisp, but with a subtle physical difference: the tip of the tongue does not actually poke out between the teeth. Instead, it presses firmly against the back surfaces of the upper central incisors. This creates a dull, muffled sound where the airflow lacks the sharp friction needed for a clean sibilant.

Lateral Lisp

A lateral lisp occurs when air is diverted around the sides of the tongue rather than straight down the middle. When the sides of the tongue fail to seal against the upper back molars, air spills into the cheek pockets. This produces a damp, “wet,” or “slushy” noise that can distort not only /s/ and /z/, but also related sounds like /sh/, /ch/, and /j/.

Palatal Lisp

A palatal lisp is less common. It happens when the speaker attempts to make the /s/ sound by lifting the middle or back portion of the tongue to touch or approach the soft palate (roof of the mouth). This misplacement creates an unusual friction sound that resembles a whispered “hy” or an improper /sh/ sound.

How to Get Rid of a Lateral Lisp vs. Interdental Lisp

Understanding how to address different lisp types is critical because treating a lateral lisp requires a completely different clinical strategy than treating an interdental lisp.

Feature	Interdental (Frontal) Lisp	Lateral Lisp
Airflow Path	Air flows straight out the FRONT of the mouth.	Air leaks out the LEFT & RIGHT SIDES into the cheeks.
Front Teeth & Tongue Tip	OPEN / LEAKING: The tongue tip protrudes forward between the upper and lower front teeth.	BLOCKED: The tongue tip seals firmly against the roof of the mouth or behind the top front teeth.
Side Molars & Tongue Edges	SEALED: The outer edges of the tongue press firmly against the top back molars.	LEAKING: The outer edges of the tongue drop down, leaving open gaps along the back teeth.
Acoustic Sound	Sounds like “TH” (“thun” instead of “sun”).	Sounds wet, slushy, or gurgling.
Developmental Status	Normal in young children under age 4–5.	Never developmental; requires targeted therapy.

Why Lateral Lisps Require Special Attention (Airflow Redirection)

If you are searching for how to get rid of a lateral lisp, it is vital to know that traditional “frontal lisp” exercises can actually make a lateral lisp worse.

An interdental lisp simply requires pulling the tongue backward behind the teeth. A lateral lisp, however, is a problem of airflow redirection and lateral sealing. Because the air is escaping sideways, telling a person with a lateral lisp to “put your tongue behind your teeth” doesn’t fix the leak at the back molars. To correct a lateral lisp, you must rebuild the tongue’s lateral muscle strength to anchor the sides while shaping a groove down the center.

Feature	Interdental (Frontal) Lisp	Lateral Lisp
Primary Physical Issue	Tongue moves too far forward (protrudes).	Sides of tongue drop; air leaks laterally into cheeks.
Acoustic Profile	“Th” sound replacement.	Wet, slushy, air-spilling sound.
Developmental Status	Normal in children under 4–5 years.	Never normal at any age.
Core Therapy Goal	Retract tongue tip to alveolar ridge behind teeth.	Build lateral tongue-molar seal & central groove.
Key Elicitation Technique	“Stretchy T” / Dental barrier cues.	“Butterfly Position” / Straw-airflow centralization.

Key Differences in Corrective Techniques

When correcting an interdental lisp, therapy focuses on visual spatial awareness: using a mirror to teach the speaker where their front teeth end and where their tongue resting spot begins.

When correcting a lateral lisp, therapy relies heavily on tactile and acoustic cues. Speech-language pathologists use techniques like shaping the /s/ from a long, aspirated /t/ sound or utilizing a narrow straw placed along the front center teeth to teach the speaker what a central stream of air feels and sounds like.

How Do You Get Rid of a Lisp at Home? Step-by-Step Speech Exercises

If you are wondering how do you get rid of a lisp through home practice, consistency and proper motor learning are key. Speech correction is essentially physical therapy for your mouth, you are retraining long-standing muscle habits and building new neural pathways.

Note: Perform these home exercises in 5- to 10-minute sessions, once or twice daily. Short, daily practice builds muscle memory far more effectively than one long session per week.

SPEECH HIERARCHY FOR LISP CORRECTION

[1. Isolation]     —>  Master clean /s/ sound by itself
        │
[2. Syllables]     —>  Combine with vowels (sa, se, si, so, su)
        │
[3. Words]         —>  Practice initial, medial, and final positions
        │
[4. Phrases]       —>  Pair target words (“sunny day”, “fast star”)
        │
[5. Sentences]     —>  Controlled reading aloud
        │
[6. Conversation]  —>  Spontaneous real-world speech monitoring

Exercise 1: Mirror Work for Visual Tongue Placement

Visual feedback is crucial for unlearning forward tongue placement.

1. Sit or stand comfortably in front of a well-lit mirror.
2. Smile widely so your front upper and lower teeth are clearly visible. Keep your teeth slightly parted (about the width of a thin pencil).
3. Place the tip of your tongue gently on the roof of your mouth, right on the bumpy ridge (alveolar ridge) behind your top front teeth.
4. Practice making a soft, silent breath out. Watch your tongue in the mirror to make sure the tip never touches or pokes through your teeth.

Exercise 2: The “Stretchy T” Technique to Elicit the /s/ Sound

The “Stretchy T” technique is one of the most effective speech therapy methods for eliciting a clean /s/ sound because the /t/ sound naturally places your tongue tip in the exact position required for /s/.

1. Place your tongue tip firmly on the alveolar ridge behind your top teeth.
2. Produce four quick, sharp /t/ sounds: “t – t – t – t”.
3. On the fifth repetition, build up air pressure behind your tongue tip and gently release it as a long, continuous hiss: “t – t – t – t – tssssssss”.
4. Pay attention to how the air flows down the center of your tongue during the hissed “sssss”. Repeat 10 times.

Exercise 3: The Butterfly Position for Airflow Centralization

This exercise is especially helpful for anyone working on how to get rid of a lateral lisp.

1. Imagine your tongue is a butterfly. The center of your tongue is the butterfly’s body, and the outer edges are its wings.
2. Raise the “wings” (outer sides) of your tongue upward so they press firmly against your top back molars.
3. Keep the “body” (center line) of your tongue relaxed and slightly lowered to form a valley or canal.
4. Blow air gently straight forward down that central canal. If the wings stay sealed against your back teeth, air is forced forward out the front of your mouth without leaking into your cheeks.

Exercise 4: Straw Drinking for Tongue Retraction

Strengthening the back of your tongue helps prevent it from sliding forward into your front teeth.

1. Use a standard drinking straw with water or a slightly thicker liquid (like a smoothie or milkshake).
2. Insert only 1/4 inch of the straw between your lips, do not bite down on it or let it rest deep in your mouth.
3. Suck the liquid upward using pure tongue retraction rather than jaw movement.
4. This action engages the deep tongue retractors (hyoglossus and styloglossus muscles), strengthening the muscle patterns required to keep your tongue tucked behind your teeth during speech.

Exercise 5: Moving Through the Speech Hierarchy (Isolation → Words → Sentences → Conversation)

Never rush straight into full conversation! Correcting speech motor habits requires moving through a structured hierarchy step by step:

1. Isolation: Master the clean /s/ sound on its own (“s-s-s-s-s”).
2. Syllables: Combine the clean sound with vowels (“sa, se, si, so, su” or “as, es, is, os, us”).
3. Single Words: Practice words containing /s/ in the initial, medial, and final positions (e.g., “sun,” “baseball,” “bus”).
4. Short Phrases & Sentences: Move on to two-word combinations (“sweet sun”) and full sentences (“The sun is warm today”).
5. Controlled Reading: Read paragraphs aloud from a book or news article, pausing to monitor your clarity.
6. Spontaneous Conversation: Practice clean speech during low-pressure daily interactions before using it in high-stakes settings.

Hard Words to Practice: Word Lists for /s/ and /z/ Sounds

Use this practice grid to systematically train your speech muscles. Practice each section aloud while watching yourself in a mirror or recording your voice.

Word Position	Target /s/ Sound Words	Target /z/ Sound Words
Initial Position (Beginning)	Sun, Sit, Soap, Sand, See, City, Soup, Sail	Zoo, Zebra, Zero, Zip, Zoom, Zinc, Zone
Medial Position (Middle)	Baseball, Pencil, Whistle, Lesson, Listening, Insect	Puzzle, Lizard, Frozen, Music, Poison, Dozen
Final Position (End)	Bus, Class, House, Glass, Yes, Mice, Goose	Buzz, Cheese, Please, Rose, Sneeze, Size
Consonant Blends	Star, Spoon, Snake, Smile, Slide, Stop, Swim	(N/A – Blends primarily occur with /s/)

Initial, Medial, and Final /s/ Words

• Initial /s/: Focus on setting your tongue tip on the alveolar ridge before releasing air (“Sun, Sit, Soap”).
• Medial /s/: Pay attention to the transition between the preceding vowel and the /s/ sound (“Pen-cil, Base-ball”). Do not let your tongue slide forward during the transition.
• Final /s/: Hold the final /s/ sound for 2 seconds to make sure the airflow stays central (“Busssss, Classsss”).

Initial, Medial, and Final /z/ Words

The /z/ sound uses the exact same physical tongue placement as the /s/ sound, but with one key difference: your vocal cords vibrate (voice ON).

• Practice turning your “engine on” by placing your hand gently on your throat while switching between /s/ and /z/: “sssss” → “zzzzz”.
• Work through initial (“Zoo”), medial (“Puzzle”), and final (“Cheese”) word lists to build vocal cord coordination without losing tongue placement.

Blended Sounds (/st/, /sm/, /sn/, /sp/)

Consonant blends like /st/ (stop), /sp/ (spoon), and /sn/ (snake) can actually be easier for some speakers because the neighboring consonant helps anchor the tongue tip. Use these words as bridge exercises if single /s/ words feel challenging.

How Do I Get Rid of a Lisp as an Adult?

Many adults carry the mistaken belief that once you reach a certain age, speech habits are locked in forever. If you are asking yourself how do i get rid of a lisp in adulthood, the clinical reality is reassuring: adults can successfully eliminate a lisp at any age.

Can You Fix a Lisp Later in Life? (Understanding Neuroplasticity)

Your brain possesses neuroplasticity, the lifelong ability to reorganize neural pathways and learn new motor skills. Just as an adult can learn to play the piano, master a complex sport, or learn a new language, you can retrain the muscle memory of your tongue.

In fact, adult speech therapy clients often make rapid progress because they bring high motivation, mature self-awareness, and disciplined practice habits to their sessions. Working with an experienced professional providing dedicated speech therapy for adults allows you to pinpoint exact muscle placement errors and achieve lasting clarity.

Strategies for Speech Awareness and Professional Communication

For working professionals, a lisp can sometimes feel like a barrier to confidence during meetings, presentations, or job interviews. Here are three strategies to build speech clarity in professional settings:

• Pacing and Micro-Pauses: Speaking too quickly causes speech articulators to rush, increasing the chance that your tongue will slip forward or sideways. Intentionally slowing your speech rate by 15–20% gives your tongue time to reach proper placement.
• Volume and Breath Support: Proper diaphragmatic breathing provides steady air pressure beneath your vocal cords, making it easier to maintain central airflow for crisp sibilants.
• Targeted Warm-Ups: Before an important presentation or phone call, spend 3 minutes running through “Stretchy T” exercises or reading a practice list aloud to prime your muscle memory.

Overcoming Auditory Inattention (How to Hear Your Own Lisp)

A common frustration among adults is “auditory inattention”, where you can hear a lisp in other people’s speech, but your brain tunes out the sound of your own voice.

• Use High-Quality Audio Recordings: Record yourself reading a short news article using your smartphone’s voice recorder. Play it back with headphones. Listening objectively to a recording helps bridge the gap between what you think you sound like and what your voice actually sounds like.
• Acoustic Contrast Training: Practice alternating between an intentionally exaggerated lisp (“thun”) and a clear sound (“sun”). Feeling and hearing the stark contrast trains your brain to spot misplacements instantly.

How Can I Get Rid of a Lisp in Children? (When to Seek Professional Help)

As a parent, watching your child struggle with speech clarity can leave you wondering how can i get rid of a lisp in my child without making them feel self-conscious or anxious.

CHILD DEVELOPMENTAL TIMELINE FOR /s/ SOUNDS

Age 2 – 3.5  ───> Frontal/interdental lisping is common & expected.
Age 4 – 5    ───> Tongue placement matures; /s/ sound begins clarifying.

Age 6 – 7    ───> Interdental lisp should fully resolve naturally.
*Any Age* ───> Lateral lisp is NEVER developmental -> Seek SLP support.

Developmental Milestones: What Age Is Normal for a Lisp?

It is completely normal for toddlers and young preschoolers to have an interdental (frontal) lisp. Between ages 2 and 4, children are still developing fine motor control over their tongue muscles.

• Ages 2 to 4: Interdental (frontal) lisps are common and developmentally appropriate.
• Ages 5 to 6: Most children naturally outgrow a frontal lisp as their jaw structure matures and their adult teeth come in.
• Age 7+: If an interdental lisp persists past age 7, it is unlikely to resolve on its own and requires targeted intervention.
• Lateral Lisps (Any Age): A lateral (“slushy”) lisp is never developmental. If you notice a lateral lisp in a child of any age, you should consult an SLP promptly.

For tailored support during early childhood, enrolling in specialized pediatric speech therapy ensures your child develops proper articulation before incorrect speech habits become deeply ingrained.

How Parents Can Model Correct Pronunciation Without Causing Anxiety

Children thrive on encouragement, not constant correction. Avoid interrupting your child or telling them “No, say it right!” when they mispronounce a word. Instead, use these positive modeling strategies:

• Recasting (Indirect Correction): When your child says, “Look at that thnake!”, respond warmly by emphasizing the clear target sound: “Yes! I see that snake too! It’s a long green snake.”
• Face-to-Face Engagement: Get down to eye level when talking so your child can naturally observe your mouth, lips, and tongue movements.
• Play-Based Practice: Turn speech exercises into interactive games, use board games, tongue twister challenges, or mirror-matching games to keep practice light and enjoyable.

How to Fix a Lisp with Professional Speech-Language Therapy

While home exercises are a great foundation, learning how to fix a lisp effectively often requires the skilled guidance of a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP). An SLP acts as a clinical coach, identifying subtle muscle misplacements that are impossible to spot on your own.

What to Expect During an SLP Articulation Assessment

Your journey with an SLP begins with a thorough clinical assessment, which typically includes:

1. Oral Mechanism Examination: The SLP examines the structure and function of your jaw, lips, tongue, hard palate, soft palate, and teeth to rule out physical restrictions like tongue-ties or dental open bites.
2. Standardized Articulation Testing: You or your child will name pictures or read standardized passages to pinpoint precisely which speech sounds are distorted and in which word positions.
3. Acoustic & Airflow Analysis: The therapist evaluates airflow direction (central vs. lateral) and acoustic resonance to diagnose the exact type of lisp.
4. Customized Treatment Plan: The SLP builds a step-by-step therapy plan with measurable milestones tailored to your daily schedule and goals.

In-Person vs. Virtual Teletherapy for Lisp Treatment

Modern speech pathology offers flexible options for receiving care:

• In-Person Therapy: Offers hands-on clinical cues, tactile tools (such as tongue depressors or oral-motor instruments), and direct physical feedback in a traditional clinic or home setting.
• Virtual Teletherapy: High-definition video therapy has proven to be extraordinarily effective for lisp treatment. Close-up digital cameras provide exceptional visual feedback for mouth placement, allowing clients to receive expert care from the comfort of their home without commuting.

Speech Therapy for Lisps in Oshawa and Ontario

If you live in Oshawa, Durham Region, or anywhere across the province, accessing regulated, high-quality speech therapy is straightforward and accessible.

Working with a CASLPO-Registered Speech-Language Pathologist

In Ontario, speech pathology is a regulated health profession. To ensure you receive safe, evidence-based care, always verify that your provider is registered with CASLPO (College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario).

CASLPO-registered clinicians adhere to rigorous clinical standards, continuing education requirements, and ethical guidelines. When seeking trusted speech therapy ontario clients can rely on, working with a CASLPO-registered practice guarantees top-tier care tailored to your unique needs.

Durham Region Community Resources and Private Health Insurance Coverage in Ontario

Navigating therapy options in Oshawa and the surrounding Durham Region is easy once you know what resources are available:

• Direct Access (No Physician Referral Required): In Ontario, you do not need a doctor’s referral to consult a private Speech-Language Pathologist. You can book an evaluation directly.
• Private Extended Health Insurance Coverage: Most private health benefit plans in Ontario (e.g., Sun Life, Manulife, Canada Life, Blue Cross) cover speech-language pathology services. Be sure to check your workplace benefit policy to review your annual coverage limits.
• Flexible Care Options in Oshawa: Local families can choose between welcoming in-clinic appointments, local community home visits throughout Oshawa, or seamless virtual speech therapy across Ontario.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long does it take to fix a lisp?

Correction time depends on practice consistency and the type of lisp:

• Interdental Lisp: 2 to 6 months with regular practice.
• Lateral Lisp: 4 to 9 months, as it requires retraining airflow.
• Adults: May take slightly longer to unlearn habits, but high motivation speeds up progress.

Can a lisp go away on its own?

Interdental (frontal) lisps in children under 5 often resolve naturally. However, if a frontal lisp persists past age 7, it usually requires therapy. Lateral lisps never go away on their own at any age and always require professional treatment.

Does wearing braces or dental appliances cause a lisp?

Yes, but usually temporarily. Braces, aligners, or expanders change mouth space, which can briefly alter tongue placement. Speech typically adjusts within a few weeks. If a lisp persists after treatment, an SLP can help restore proper placement.

Ready to Speak with Confidence?

Whether you are looking to support your child’s communication milestones or overcome a lifelong lisp as an adult, expert support is available right here in Oshawa and across Ontario. Contact MDD Speech Therapy today to schedule a consultation with a registered CASLPO Speech-Language Pathologist and take the first step toward clear, effortless speech!