Speaking with a lisp What is lisping? Lisping, or speaking with a lisp means the /s/ is pronounced incorrectly. Because of weak tongue muscles or too little control of the tongue motion, the /s/ sounds unclear. In serious cases speech becomes almost incomprehensible and a troubling experience. Socially, a mispronounced /s/ can lead to a child being teased or left out in class. It could lead to a fear of speaking or aggression. Adults can expect problems if they are to choose a career involving speech. Lisping is caused in various ways. The tongue is pushed upwards between the teeth, where the flow of air which creates the /s/ sound becomes too big. With the outgoing air an unclear /s/ is heard. The tongue may be pushed sideways between the ….. or molars, which also brings about the unclear /s/ sound. Adults or children who have an open bite, in which there is too much space between the lower and upper teeth, will often push their tongue into the opening of their teeth, causing the wrong /s/ sound. When the /s/ is pronounced incorrectly, other sounds, such as the /z/, /sj/ and /zj/ are often said unclearly as well. Lisping usually comes about during speech development, but can develop at any age. What does the speech therapist do? The speech therapist is a professional in the area of speech, and will investigate into the cause of the lisp. Distinguishing a correct and incorrect /s/ is taught; listening, looking and feeling are brought into this. Tongue exercises will strengthen the muscles in the tongue, followed by learning to use the tongue in the correct way while speaking. First of all only the correct pronunciation of the/s/ sound is taught, followed by using /s/ in syllables, words and sentences. Eventually the correct pronunciation will be used in ordinary speech. The result of treatment depends on the cause of the lisp, and other factors such as age, motivation and co operation.The investigation and treatment for lisping will, as a rule, be reimbursed by medical insurance, and almost every individual health insurance company, provided it has been recommended by a doctor or medical specialist.