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Where Speech-language Pathologists find ideas, activities and materials.

Interdental Lisping

What is it?

Interdental lisping is when the tongue protrudes between the front teeth when producing /s/ or /z/, resulting in a “th” sound.  The /s/ becomes a voiceless “th”, as in “think”, and the /z/ becomes a voiced “th”, as in “those”.  Interdental lisping, also be known as “frontal lisping”, is a normal developmental phase that some children go through.  Because of this, if a person continues this pattern of speech past the age when most have outgrown it (around 4 ½ years old), his speech may be perceived as juvenile.
What about other interdental sounds?

Other sounds may be produced with a protruding tongue as well.  Most commonly, lingual protrusion during the “sh”, “zh” (as in “equation”), “ch” and “j” sounds may accompany the interdental lisping of /s/ and /z/.

In addition, lingual alveolar sounds (i.e., /t/, /d/, /n/, /l/) that should be produced with the tongue on the alveolar ridge may be produced with the tongue protruding between the front teeth.

 

What can I do to work on interdentalized /s/ and /z/?

1.   Establish auditory discrimination

2.   Provide focused auditory input.

3.   Get correct production of /s/ in isolation.

4.   Move through the hierarchy of production levels (syllables, words, phrases/sentences, reading activities, and conversational speech) with the sound in each position.  Note:  For lisping, I prefer to start with /s/ in the initial position.

Check out our sets and individual materials for practicing correct /s/ and /z/ sounds.

 

This Post Has 3 Comments
  1. I just signed up to receive your emails today. Is it possible for you to email me this article/ideas on lisping. I would really appreciate your information.
    Thank you!
    Michele Darilek

  2. I would also like a copy of of the article/ideas on lisping. Thank you very much!
    Natalie

  3. My Interdental Lisping Basic Set is available on my products page. This set includes:

    Instructions for working on interdental lisping
    A checklist for articulation sounds
    Auditory input lists for initial and final /s/ and /z/
    Initial /s/ words practice page
    Initial /s/ words game board
    Directions for making a snake sock puppet

    http://www.speechtherapyideas.com/products/

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