From the Guidelines
You should be concerned about a lisp in children if it persists beyond 4-5 years of age, as most children outgrow speech sound errors by kindergarten age. While many young children naturally have speech sound errors as they develop language skills, a lisp that continues after age 5 can be a cause for concern. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, regular surveillance of developmental milestones, auditory skills, parental concerns, and middle-ear status should be performed in the medical home, consistent with the pediatric periodicity schedule 1.
Some key factors to consider when evaluating a child's lisp include:
- The type of lisp, such as frontal, lateral, or palatal
- The child's age and overall speech development
- The presence of any underlying medical conditions that may be contributing to the lisp
- The impact of the lisp on the child's ability to communicate effectively and their overall quality of life
If you're concerned about your child's lisp, it's essential to consult a speech-language pathologist who can evaluate their speech patterns and recommend appropriate therapy if needed 1. Early intervention is beneficial, as speech patterns become more ingrained and potentially harder to correct as children get older. Speech therapy typically involves exercises to strengthen oral muscles and practice proper tongue placement, with sessions usually occurring 1-2 times weekly for several months depending on severity.
It's also important to note that some children may require more intensive speech-language therapy, especially if they have underlying conditions such as 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, which can affect speech development and resonance 1. In these cases, a comprehensive evaluation and treatment plan should be developed in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team of specialists, including speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and other healthcare professionals.
From the Research
When to Worry About Lisp in Children
- Lisp, also known as sigmatism, is a speech sound disorder that can affect children's ability to articulate certain sounds, such as the "s" and "z" sounds 2.
- Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) use various approaches to treat speech sound disorders, including the minimal pairs approach, traditional articulatory approaches, auditory discrimination, and Cued Articulation 3.
- Children with speech sound disorders, including lisp, should attend speech and language therapy and practice speech exercises regularly to overcome their speech difficulties 4.
- SLPs consider various factors, including the child's age, severity of the disorder, and individual needs, when deciding when to intervene and what approach to use 5, 6.
- Research suggests that a combination of acoustic and visual features can be useful in assessing and diagnosing speech sound disorders, including lisp, in children 2.
- Some common signs that may indicate a need for concern about lisp in children include:
- Difficulty articulating certain sounds, such as the "s" and "z" sounds
- Distorted or incorrect pronunciation of words
- Difficulty being understood by others
- Avoiding speaking or communicating due to self-consciousness about their speech
- If you are concerned about your child's speech or suspect that they may have a lisp or other speech sound disorder, it is recommended that you consult with an SLP for an evaluation and guidance on the best course of treatment 3, 4, 5, 2, 6.