If this doesn’t sound like your speech impediment, skip down to the section below.
It may help to look in a mirror while trying to adopt this position. [4] X Expert Source Devin Fisher, CCC-SLPSpeech Language Pathologist Expert Interview. 15 January 2021.
Don’t worry about trying to say words that have an “s” in them at first. Just work on making an “s” sound to start with. [5] X Expert Source Devin Fisher, CCC-SLPSpeech Language Pathologist Expert Interview. 15 January 2021.
Don’t worry if you can’t make an s sound on your first try. The steps below will help you adjust to the right position.
If you’re having trouble with this, try saying eeeeet instead. Extend the duration of the t sound until it becomes eeeeeet-t-t-t-s-s-s-s.
Short vowel syllables: ss - aa - ss - aa → sa sa sa (& so so so, etc. )[8] X Expert Source Devin Fisher, CCC-SLPSpeech Language Pathologist Expert Interview. 15 January 2021. Long vowel syllables: ss - ay - ss - ay → say say say Words with s in the beginning, middle, and end (one at a time): sold skateboard, hissing master, gross pass. [9] X Expert Source Devin Fisher, CCC-SLPSpeech Language Pathologist Expert Interview. 15 January 2021. Phrases with several s sounds, and eventually sentences. Work the s sound into conversation, starting in comfortable contexts.
It will likely be very difficult to correct a lisp on your own if you have trouble hearing the difference between the correct and incorrect pronunciations. [11] X Research source
Lateral lisp: s comes out as a “slushy” or “wet” sound. You hold your tongue in a position similar to an L sound, and this lower position allows air to escape out the sides of your mouth. Palatal lisp: s comes out as a hy sound, created by the mid-section of your tongue contacting the soft palate way back on the roof of your mouth.
Any speech exercise may be easier with a partner who can identify when you are making a mistake. If you have trouble noticing the difference between the correct and incorrect forms, self-training may not work well.
Have someone else read this description and check whether you have achieved it. Don’t try to move on to the next step until you can form this tongue position. [16] X Research source Visit a speech language pathologist if you cannot do it. If you can roll your tongue, you may instead stick your tongue tip forward, then rolling the edges of your tongue up to your upper teeth. [17] X Research source
If it sounds slushy, press the sides of your tongue harder against your upper teeth. You should feel the air shooting straight forward, not out the sides. If it sounds like a y or hy, lower the center of your tongue. If you’re not producing much sound at all, raise the front of your tongue close to the roof your mouth, behind the front teeth but not touching them.
Prolong the t sound, then “blow through” it, producing a hiss of air: t-t-t-t-t-(blow). Say the th sound (as in “thing”) but blow air through it, out the front of your mouth. Move the tip of your tongue backward along the roof of your mouth as you continue to blow.
Single syllables that contain s, with both long and short vowels. Single words that contain s, at the front, middle, and end of the word. Words that contain a single s next to another consonant (snake, eats), and then two consonants (street, pants). Full sentences, either prepared or read aloud from a book. Conversation, starting with people you feel comfortable around. Note — when you feel ready, drop the butterfly approach and other conscious exercises to adjust your tongue shape. Repeat your practice words until you can say them naturally, without thinking about your mouth shape.
