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Have you ever heard your child, student, or client say the “s” sound with a slushy tone when expressed? That “slushy” tone could be due to air flowing over the wrong area of the tongue. To say a proper “s” sound, the airflow should be down the middle of the tongue as opposed to over the sides of the tongue. If this does not occur, an “s” sound may be expressed that sounds more like there is additional saliva being pushed through the sides of the mouth. This is what is generally referred to as a “lateral lisp.” Additionally, this “slushy” sound can also occur with the “z,” “sh,” and “ch” sounds which are also known as fricatives and affricates ((McLeod (2013) as cited in Singer and Martine (2023)). Fricatives and affricates require specific tongue placement. There are several techniques that can be used to teach this specific tongue placement. A way to remind your child, student, or client of where to place this articulator is by providing a verbal prompt or cue to have them bring their tongue to the “spot.” The “spot” is the bumpy area behind the upper teeth also known as the alveolar ridge. Sometimes a tactile cue could be implemented by utilizing a toothette to touch where the “bumpy spot” is behind the teeth. Additionally, a verbal cue of, “Let’s place our tongue on the spot,” while visually prompting them to make a biting motion, retracting their lips into a “smile,” and pushing air down the middle of the tongue to say the “s” sound could be implemented. This approach along with other types of therapeutic treatments could be one way your child learns proper placement of the tongue for the “s” sound in order to minimize the “slushy” sound or “lateral lisp.”

Reference

Singer, C. and Martin, E. (2023). Treating a Young Child Who Stutters’ Lateral

Lisp: A Case Study. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups

(8) 5. Pages 886-896. https://doi.org/10.1044/2023_PERSP-22-0013