What Is a Lateral Lisp?

A lateral lisp is a speech pattern where air escapes over the sides of the tongue instead of down the middle, making sounds like /s/, /z/, /sh/, and /ch/ sound “wet” or “slushy.”

For example, the word “sun” might sound like “shun” or “slun.” This happens because the sides of the tongue lower slightly, allowing air to leak sideways — similar to the sound of someone trying to speak while holding water in their mouth.

Unlike a frontal lisp (where the tongue pokes forward), a lateral lisp is not developmentally typical at any age. It won’t go away on its own and requires direct, structured speech therapy to correct.

Why a Lateral Lisp Occurs

Several factors can contribute to a lateral lisp, including:

• Incorrect tongue placement habits (the tongue sits too far to the sides)

• Muscle coordination challenges affecting tongue control

• Oral structure differences, such as a high palate or large tonsils

• Long-standing speech patterns that became habitual during early development

While structural differences may play a small role, most lateral lisps stem from learned motor patterns — meaning they can be retrained through therapy and consistent practice.

How Speech Therapy Treats a Lateral Lisp

Correcting a lateral lisp involves teaching the tongue a new way to move and direct airflow. Because this speech pattern affects multiple sounds, therapy focuses on retraining airflow and tongue position rather than just drilling one sound at a time.

The treatment process typically includes these key stages:

1. Awareness and Education

The first step is helping the child understand how and why their sound is different.
An SLP (speech-language pathologist) might use mirrors, straws, or visuals to show the difference between lateral and central airflow.

For example:

• The child feels the air escaping from the sides of the tongue.

• Then the SLP demonstrates how to make air move down the center — the “snake sound” /s/.
  This builds awareness, which is essential before accurate sound production can begin.

2. Establishing Correct Tongue Placement

The tongue tip should be just behind the top teeth, with the sides of the tongue gently lifted to block air from escaping.
To teach this, SLPs use techniques like:

• Straw blowing: Encouraging air to move straight through a straw to feel centered airflow.

• “Snake hissing” practice: Producing a long, clear /s/ sound with teeth together and airflow in the middle.

• Visual cues: Showing airflow direction with tissue paper or feathers.

Once the correct placement feels natural, the child can begin producing the sound accurately.

3. Sound Production in Isolation

The SLP helps the child practice the target sound (usually /s/ or /z/) alone, focusing on consistency and clarity.
Short, playful bursts of practice keep motivation high — for example, “Let’s hiss like a snake five times!”

Therapy sessions are positive and success-oriented, celebrating small improvements in sound quality.

4. Practicing in Syllables and Words

After the sound is consistent alone, it’s practiced in simple syllables and words:

• /s/ + vowel: see, sue, say, so, saw

• /z/ + vowel: zoo, zip, zebra, zero
  Gradually, the child moves from single sounds to longer words and phrases, strengthening tongue control.

5. Using the Sound in Sentences and Conversation

The ultimate goal is for the new, correct sound to carry over into natural speech.
Activities may include:

• Storytelling or describing pictures using target sounds

• Board games that require saying words or sentences

• Role-play or conversation practice in real-life situations

This stage focuses on generalization — using the correct sound automatically without reminders.

Helpful Tools and Techniques

Speech-language pathologists often use visual, auditory, and tactile tools to make therapy engaging and effective:

• Mirrors: To see mouth and tongue position

• Straws or airflow toys: To train central airflow

• Minimal pair cards: To help children hear the difference between “sip” and “ship”

• Recording devices: To let children listen to their progress

Consistency and practice are key. A few minutes of daily home practice can speed up progress dramatically.

Home Practice Tips for Parents

Parents can reinforce therapy by creating supportive practice opportunities at home. Try these ideas:

• Practice for 5 minutes daily: Keep it short, fun, and consistent.

• Use games: Say a target word before each turn in board games.

• Model clearly: Exaggerate your /s/ and /z/ sounds naturally in conversation.

• Encourage awareness: Ask, “Did that sound slushy or clear?”

• Stay positive: Focus on progress, not perfection.

Children are more motivated when practice feels like play, not work.

When to Seek Professional Help

If your child:

• Has a “slushy” or “wet” sound when speaking

• Struggles with /s/, /z/, /sh/, or /ch/ sounds after age 5

• Has been in speech therapy without clear improvement

…it’s time to consult an SLP experienced in treating lateral lisps or tongue placement disorders. The earlier therapy begins, the easier it is to correct the pattern.

FAQs

Is a lateral lisp normal?
No. Unlike a frontal lisp (which can be typical in younger children), a lateral lisp is not developmental and will not go away without therapy.

How long does it take to fix a lateral lisp?
It depends on the child’s age, motivation, and consistency with practice, but many children show progress within a few months of regular therapy.

Can adults fix a lateral lisp?
Absolutely. With focused practice and awareness, adults can successfully retrain their tongue placement and airflow patterns.

Helping Speech Become Clear and Confident

Treating a lateral lisp takes patience and practice, but progress can be fast and rewarding. With professional guidance and consistent home support, children (and adults) can learn to direct airflow correctly, producing crisp, confident sounds that make their speech clear and natural.