I have a slight lisp and need help...?!
Question: Alright, so I'm a 19 year old male and I have a bit of a lisp...but according to most people it's either not that bad or hardly even noticeable, even though I think people are just trying to not hurt my feelings.
It's really affecting my self esteem and it's taking it's toll on me lately cause I'm become more withdrawn from social gatherings and when I do go out I tend to be very quiet and try not to talk so much, lol. That and I just don't want people hear me talk and then look down to me just cause of this problem.
I was wondering if there's any way I can fix this, maybe by seeing a speech therapist...or surgery, or I don't know.
But someone PLEASE give me advice. This is a very big deal to me and I could use all the help and advice I can get. So whoever can give me the best, detailed answer...you'll have a very grateful 10 points with your name on it.
Thank you all soooo much for any help you give me. :)
Answers: Alright, so I'm a 19 year old male and I have a bit of a lisp...but according to most people it's either not that bad or hardly even noticeable, even though I think people are just trying to not hurt my feelings.
It's really affecting my self esteem and it's taking it's toll on me lately cause I'm become more withdrawn from social gatherings and when I do go out I tend to be very quiet and try not to talk so much, lol. That and I just don't want people hear me talk and then look down to me just cause of this problem.
I was wondering if there's any way I can fix this, maybe by seeing a speech therapist...or surgery, or I don't know.
But someone PLEASE give me advice. This is a very big deal to me and I could use all the help and advice I can get. So whoever can give me the best, detailed answer...you'll have a very grateful 10 points with your name on it.
Thank you all soooo much for any help you give me. :)
You are among a large group of people that do have lisps. A lisp (stammering) is a speech impediment, historically also known as sigmatism. Stereotypically, people with a lisp are unable to pronounce sibilants (like the sound [s]), though there are actually several kinds of lisp. The result is that the speech is unclear.
"Interdental" lisping is produced when the tip of the tongue protrudes between the front teeth and "dentalised" lisping is produced when the tip of the tongue just touches the front teeth.
The "lateral" lisp, where the /s/ and /z/ sounds are produced with air escaping over the sides of the tongue, is also called 'slushy ess' or a 'slushy lisp' due to the wet, spitty sound. The symbols for these lateralized sounds are in the Extended International Phonetic Alphabet for speech disorders, (s) and (z).
Finally, there is the "palatal lisp," where the speaker attempts to make the sounds with the tongue in contact with the palate. I don't know which type of lisp you have, but know that you are not alone.
A speech therapist should have been utilized when you in school, but it's not too late. They are specialized in this manner and can help you virtually eliminate the lisp with practice.
If that's not practical, get a mirror and look at yourself when you speak. When you pronounce the sounds incorrectly, you will be able to see where you are placing your tongue. Watch your tongue placement in the mirror. Have a friend help you who can pronounce the sounds and mimic him/her. Practice, practice, practice. That's all it takes. You have been mispronouncing these sounds incorrectly all your life, so give this some time to resolve itself by doing this little exercise routinely every day. Before you know it, you will be better able to pronounce these words. It will be slow going at first as you learn the new placement for your tongue. Just keep practicing. It does take commitment on your part, but it sounds like you are ready.
Take care my friend.
My advice for you is to become a radio announcer.