Speech therapy: is there anything I can do at this late a date?

[CaptainVimes]

I have a lisp which was more or less ignored when I was younger, and I was wondering if it would be possible to 'fix' it now? Or should I? The main disadvantages I can see are that a) DS might pick it up and b) our choice of children's names is a bit limited (Cecily obviously out). Any experts out there?

LOL at Cecily!

bump for you

will ask my mate, she a speech therapist...watch this space!

I'm a SALT - have never fixed a lisp in an adult but it's def. possible.

No dental abnormalities or anything?

Thanks Fibernie, just called my mate and she's out

Ooh, more responses!

Not sure about dental abnormalities, have a bit of an overbite but that's it. People have explained to me how to say 's' but I just can't manage it - comes out as a hissy 'th'

Where does your tongue go when you say 't'?

front top of mouth, just behind the ridge

Can you hold it there and let out a slow stream of air to make a 's' sound?
Obviously I can't fix you online, but that would be the first step.
If you're willing to practice LOADS I'd say there is a good chance you can fix it. However, you'd need to check there is no physical reason for it (like odd dental stuff)

sounds v breathy and odd. But would I be able to hear it myself correctly? I could practice in front of DH and he could help by pulling faces...

I don't notice it any more but it is v obvious when I hear myself so I should do something if it's easily fixable. And my normal 's' sound it made with my tongue between my teeth for some unknown reason.

in fact sounds like I am wearing badly fitting dentures

Go and see your GP to ask for a referral. You might find you get bounced around a bit. Treating lisps isn't something that SALTs who work with adults are normally in the business off, since most of the people we treat have acquired their problem via brain injury/surgery etc. You might find yourself being treated by someone who specialises in children, but has experience in working with adults (ie. will be able to find you materials that aren't all based on Sammy the snake!).

If you want to go private it's not something that would take a lot of individual sessions - more likely an assessment, advice on homework and lots of practice.

Good Luck!

Thanks so much for your advice - v helpful indeed . D'you think it might be covered under health insurance (have plan through work)? If it would be relatively quick to treat I'd be v tempted

(also can;t believe I might have sorted a 30-yr problem with one question on MN!)

No idea on the health insurance I'm afraid. Might be less time involved for slt than for you (30 year behavioural problem will likely take some real motivation to turn round).