How to Overcome a Lisp Speech Impediment

A lisp is a type of speech impediment in which certain letter sounds are mispronounced. There are several types of lisps, but the most common one involves pronouncing the letters "S" and "Z" as a "th" sound. Speech therapists help people with speech impediments overcome these speech problems. However, if you want to get rid of your lisp, but do not want to go to a speech therapist, there are several things you can do at home.

Instructions

• 1

  Determine which sounds you're having difficulty with. Repeat the alphabet several times to find out which sounds you need to work on. Also, try a variety of words to discover any letter combinations that give you trouble.

• 2

  Record yourself saying the letters and sounds you need to work on. Also have someone else record the proper pronunciation of the sounds or use an online dictionary with a pronunciation guide. See if you can hear the difference between the right and wrong pronunciations.

• 3

  Drink from a straw. Some speech impediments are a result of the tongue being in a forward position. To counteract this, try drinking from a straw. Pay attention to the way the tongue slides back when you suck on the straw. When speaking, make sure your tongue is in this back position.

• 4

  Use alliteration. Alliteration is when several words in a row begin with the same letters or sounds. An example of alliteration is "Sally sells seashells by the seashore." Develop alliterations that use letters and sounds that are difficult for you to pronounce. Repeat these phrases several times in a row throughout the day to get more comfortable with the sounds.

• 5

  Breathe through your nose. If you tend to breathe through your mouth, your posture could be affecting your speech. Make a concerted effort to breathe through your nose as this should help your speech difficulties. If you suffer from allergies or other conditions that prevent you from breathing through your nose, do what you can to take care of them so you can breathe through your nose.

• 6

  Focus on your words when you speak. Take your time when speaking and focus on each word as you say it. If it helps you concentrate, don't make eye contact with the person to whom you are speaking. Instead, look at the bridge of the nose of the person you're speaking to. This may make it easier for you to concentrate while you're speaking.