Why am I Suddenly Talking with a Lisp?
A lisp is a common speech condition that makes pronouncing particular sounds difficult and can affect people of any age. The most common sounds that are difficult to say due to a lisp are “s” and “z”. Lisps can be caused by many different factors, but a lisp that appears suddenly can be a sign of a more serious underlying condition.
Many adults who speak with a lisp can experience embarrassment or feel self-conscious about the way they speak, which can have wide-reaching impacts on their confidence, social and professional possibilities, and interpersonal relationships.
If you or someone close to you is speaking with a lisp and wants to work to improve speech and articulation, speech therapy is the best treatment for a lisp. Getting started with one of our experienced speech and language pathologists is as easy as scheduling your free introductory call today!
Why Am I Developing a Lisp as an Adult?
There are many reasons why an adult might develop a lisp, but any lisp that appears suddenly is cause for concern, and the individual should seek the care of a medical professional as soon as possible. Most lisps are the result of improper tongue placement, which can occur for many different reasons. With that being said, some of the most common causes of lisping in adults include:
Neurological Factors: Medical conditions that affect the nervous system and/or brain, such as Parkinson’s disease or stroke, can cause the sudden development of a lisp.
Injuries or Trauma: Any trauma or injury to the face, mouth, teeth, jaw, or tongue can cause an adult to develop a lisp.
Dental Changes & Oral Health Problems: Sometimes, a lisp is caused by changes to the teeth or the structure of the mouth. Tooth loss, improperly fitted dentures, braces, or other forms of orthodontic treatment can also contribute to changes in speech, which can include the development of a lisp. Oral health problems such as gum inflammation, abscesses or infections, or sores on the gum tissue can also lead to lisping in adults.
Mental Health & Psychological Factors: In some cases, a lisp is caused by psychological trauma or significant struggles with stress and anxiety. These challenges can often cause changes in speech, including a lisp.
Coordination Challenges & Muscle Weakness: Conditions that affect coordination or cause weakness in the muscles can cause an adult to develop a lisp, such as ALS and multiple sclerosis.
What is an Acquired Lisp?
Lisps can be classified into two categories: developmental and acquired. A developmental lisp refers to a lisp that occurs in young children, typically between the ages of 2 and 4. These lisps are usually a normal part of speech development and will go away without treatment as the child grows and develops. A lisp that persists beyond the age of 4 should be addressed by a speech and language pathologist.
An acquired lisp is less common and usually occurs in adults. The term ‘acquired lisp’ simply means that the lisp developed later in life and is different from a developmental lisp that wasn’t addressed and subsequently persists into adulthood. Acquired lisps require treatment through speech therapy to properly address the speech challenges and improve pronunciation.
How to Get Rid of Adult Lisp?
While speech therapy is known for helping children with language or speech disorders, speech therapy can also help adults who want to get rid of a lisp and speak more clearly. Speech therapy for an adult lisp begins by identifying the specific sounds that are challenging to produce, as well as a close examination of tongue placement and other factors that can affect speech. Specific speech therapy goals are established, and from there, a customized treatment plan is created.
Speech therapy is the best resource for an adult who wants to eliminate their lisp and speak more clearly. The speech therapist will provide specific exercises and techniques, as well as activities to work on at home between speech therapy sessions.
If you or someone close to you has a lisp that is negatively affecting daily life and overall communication, seeking the guidance of a speech therapist is an important step. Don’t wait to connect with one of our qualified speech and language pathologists; simply schedule your free introductory call today!
What Exercises Get Rid of Lisps?
While working closely with a speech therapist is the best way to overcome an adult lisp, there are some techniques that can help improve speech and reduce instances of lisping, such as:
Practice Tongue Placement: If your speech therapist has modeled correct tongue placement, practice producing the challenging sounds while ensuring your tongue is placed correctly.
Master Individual Sounds: Focus on mastering the challenging sounds in isolation. Once you can correctly produce the sound on its own, try incorporating that sound into small words or short sentences. If you are struggling with that, simply go back to saying the sound on its own before moving on.
Manage Your Stress: Adults who lisp often find that their speech difficulties are worsened when they are feeling stressed or anxious. Practice simple breathing, relaxation, and mindfulness techniques to improve breath control, reduce negative thoughts and feelings, and relax your muscles, all of which can help with speech production.
Record Yourself: Try reading a short passage from a book out loud while recording yourself. Listen back to the recording and identify which sounds you are struggling with the most and focus on tongue placement and sound production for those which are most challenging.
Explore Virtual Speech Therapy
Did you know that Great Speech offers online speech therapy services across the United States? Connecting with a specialized speech and language pathologist and working to improve the clarity and fluency of your speech has never been easier or more convenient. Offering evening and weekend appointments all from the comfort of your own home, working with a speech therapist through Great Speech means saving time and money and reaching your goals with ease. Get started with us by scheduling your free introductory call today!