I did want to inquire about the source of the information regarding a lisp being psychological in nature -- that children will lisp to get attention.

As a speech language therapist, I have never read or been taught that in my nine years of initial training, nor my 13 years of experience and research as a speech therapist. I would like that to be researched please.

Wow. I didn't know this was here. I am a speech language pathologist and the very first questioner wanted to know what type of lisp she had that was not the one where the /s/ sounds like 'th.' He or she has a lateral lisp. A lateral lisp is one where air comes out of the sides of the mouth and makes a little bit of a slushy sound.

It does not sound like 'th' and it does not sound like a snake or flat tire - a high pitched sound that the /s/ should sound like. It is a common error sound. I will try to write again to address some of the other comments I read, but my home computer is down and therefore it is a bit difficult for now.

I have a lisp and i really hate it. i'm always self-conscious about it and i hate how my bff and mom tell me that i don't have one when i know i do.

I'm 13 and I have a lisp, but I can't find the kind of lisp I have online. It's been going away, and it's not a "TH" lisp anymore, it's more of a hiss, or a whisper, at the end of my S's, and my lip kind of goes to the side. Any ideas?

Where are the parents on here? Where are the doctor's responses on here? I am a 30 something, degreed, police officer. As a child, I realized I had a lisp. I did not even know what a lisp was, but I knew something was terribly wrong in my mouth. My parents never uttered a word about it. The only thing I can figure out is that my parents thought it was cute or something. And that would make my parents, well, let's move on. I told my parents that my tongue was too big for my mouth, (teeth). My tongue is literally smashed up against the sides of my upper teeth and very uncomfortable, to this day. This makes speaking a problem and a constant struggle, especially when I am tired. And, even at such a young age, I realized something was very, very wrong. So my parents took me to a, "respected" orthodontist (not a speech pathologist), and he put braces on my perfectly straight teeth. I clearly told the "doctor" that I needed my upper teeth widened because my tongue was too wide, or thick, for my mouth. After years of wearing these braces, they were finally removed. This, "doctor" did absolutely nothing for me. And today, as a police officer, I have great difficulty even saying my own unit number on the radio. It is a nightmare which no one should ever go through. Learn from my mistakes and go to a speech pathologist, not an orthodontist. Maybe the speech pathologist works with an orthodontist -- and that's cool as long as there is an actual, organized, medical goal to this. Just like a lot of younger people on here, I have trouble with pronouncing the S words. I have tried to set up an appointment with a speech pathologist. I have pretty good insurance -- or so I thought. Unfortunately, my insurance company has politely informed me that I will have to jump through about two million hoops to be covered. So, now my choice is to pay about $150 to $200 per appointment to even begin to get help with this. This is a very real nightmare. I called my insurance company. The girl from my insurance company was about as nice as possible. I explained to her that I had a birth (genetic) deformity that resulted in a lisp. I was politely blunt with her. I told her my tongue was too big for my teeth. And then I asked her if this was unusual. She paused, and told me that, it was actually not unusual. I could clearly tell that she understood that my situation was real (who would make this crap up?), but that I was about to go through some real "fun" in getting help with this. She did some research and called me back. And it's going to be hoop-jumping time for me to get my insurance to cover a speech pathologist. Fantastic. And it could have easily been avoided if my parents had taken me to a certified speech pathologist as a young person. Message to *all* parents with kids who have lisps: This is not a joke, it's not cute and it is not funny. Take your child to the best certified speech pathologist you can find if your child has trouble speaking, lisps, or stutters. Your child will appreciate this more than you can imagine -- especially as they become adults. Message to kids with lisps or speech problems: If you have told your parents about this, and they are doing nothing, please talk to them again about it and tell them you need help. If your parents refuse to help you (or they are in denial), don't just ignore this. When you get a job, call your insurance company and get an appointment with a certified speech pathologist. If you go to college, go to the college doctor's office and tell them you need help with a speech disorder. If you are in junior high school or high school, go to your school nurse and at least tell them you are having problems speaking. Once you hit your mid-teens, this stuff does not go away. Trust me, I know it all too well. (If you spoke well before braces, and then had a bit of trouble after the braces, that's probably different). Otherwise, just get help, and don't stop until a professional actually helps you. You don't want to be in your 30's dealing with this -- you really don't. And for the parents who are in denial that their child has a lisp, stutter, or whatever--and refuses to help them: Shame on you!

I'm 12 and i have a lisp. it is a 'sh' lisp though. people tease me about and make me say pencil, but i can't actually hear it, but people say i have one, and i hate it so much. :'( :'(

i have a lisp and its kinda annoying because my friends say stuff like, "say pencils or massachusetts or mississippi" and stuff like that.

I had a strong lisp from the time I could start talking up to the third grade. I took years of speech therapy which helped me out a lot. Now, at the age of 33, I still work with the techniques I was taught and if I have a drink or two, the lisp will come out. I can see my lisp sometimes if I watch myself on video. I'd love to resolve the problem 100 percent but I've come to terms with it and it is part of who I am. I am happy that I don't sound like I am saying the "TH" sound when I say "Yes" and I would definitely recommend therapy to everyone. I don't think it would be cute in the professional world. :-)

I Have a lisp. Luckily I work at a sheltered workshop because it is embarrassing. In public mainly.

i don't have a lisp but i have friends who do. people shouldn't be self conscious of it. there are famous people that have lisps including alex gaskarth from the band all time low and he sings very well, so people shouldn't be self conscious of it.

Im 13 and i have a lisp. i can't hear it but everyone i know says i have one and i have had speech therepy and still have it. what do i do?

I'm 12 and i also have a lisp. my mom says it's just because of my braces but some people told me i had a lisp even before that. it's really embarrassing and the people on the bus make fun of me. they always make me say scissors. :(

i have a lisp. although i myself cannot hear it, others can. it is very embarrassing. i also don't know which lisp i have. i know this can't be true, but people said i may have a lisp because my tongue may be thick and/or big. now im very self-conscious about what i say. i try substituting words that have an "s" in it, with another word that means the same thing. :(

I am 14 and I have a lisp and can't pronounce s's right. I get embarrassed by it often and don't like to talk in public because sometimes people point it out. I've had speech therapy but I still have speech problems.

I am 17 and I have a slight lisp. It is very small, but it is embarrassing because people tend to notice it, and make fun of me for it. Because of this, I have become very antisocial...

Ek! I know what you mean. I have a lisp and people sometimes think I'm rude because when I say 'she' it sounds like I'm saying he. It's very annoying when your under pressure and people are just staring at you because they can barely understand you.

I never realized I had a lisp until I was in 5th grade. We were on a field trip to Gumbo Limbo, a nature exhibit. The instructor had a lisp and a girl in my class said "Look! Now you have a lisp buddy!" I never realized it until then!

I have a lisp and I'm 14 years old. Its really annoying because my closest friends are the only ones who somewhat know what I'm saying. :(

That's Terrible, I have a lisp and try and ignore it, but it's really embarrassing, I know I only have a small one but I'm still really self conscious about it. Which makes it worse because when I'm nervous it gets alot worse.

Try and make her feel better about it,

Some lisps can be cute.

If she's really worried, go see a speech pathologist.

hi i have a girlfriend who has a lisp and shes worried about meeting my family cause they might laugh at her cause of her lisp. what should i do?