My son has a lisp

[wannabmomof3]

What can I do? He's almost 3 years old. I absolutely love it, but understand that some kids can be mean and don't want him being teased for that in school later. Some in our family already tease him about it, and I don't want him having a complex about it when he's old enough to understand.

Is this something I can bring up with his ped? I would think she'll refer us to see a speech therapist or something, but how young can we start? Anything I can do at home to help?

[macksmom]

My DD has one. DH is a speech therapist and says it's normal at that age (she is 3). Nothing much to do about but perhaps repeat the word back without the lisp. Like if he says, "Thith is swtheet" you would say, "yes THAt IS sWeet isn't it"?

Never hurts to mention it to your pedi but he will most likely grow out of it :)

I'd put a stop to whoever is teasing in the family. That is just wrong.

[wannabmomof3]

My DD has one. DH is a speech therapist and says it's normal at that age (she is 3). Nothing much to do about but perhaps repeat the word back without the lisp. Like if he says, "Thith is swtheet" you would say, "yes THAt IS sWeet isn't it"?

Never hurts to mention it to your pedi but he will most likely grow out of it :)

I'd put a stop to whoever is teasing in the family. That is just wrong.

It's not a normal kid lisp. I mean, I know exactly what you are talking about. But he has a full on lisp. If he says lisp it's litthhhhp. The only time he talks normally is if he has food in his mouth. I knew he had it from very early on. Before he was even talking. We switched pediatrician since then, but I asked the old one about it then and she basically told me I was crazy for thinking he'd have a lisp because he's so young. And sure enough he has a lisp.

[DucksLikeRain]

I'm an adult with a lisp. Speech therapy for three years didn't "fix" it and the only teasing I ever had was one of my brothers.

You could bring it up to the pedi but really at age 3 it's pretty typical. Kindergarten for both my girls has shown more kids lisping their S or SH or mispronouncing L and TH than those who have them all down right.

[macksmom]

I think it's just early to determine if it's a "real" problem at his age because it is quite common. Does he stick he tongue out when he says the lispy things?

I would definitely mention it to the pedi and see what he/she says but I wouldn't rush to any speech therapists just yet....

[AbbeysMom]

My daughter has one too. I agree with repeating back what they are saying without the lisp.

You could ask a dentist to look at his bite and see if that's causing the issue, that's why DD has one and the dentist said it would either clear up on it's on as her teeth grew or after she had braces if she needed them.

[puppy wuv]

It could also be a tongue tie. If he has that and it is left uncut, he would most likely develop a lisp from that. But if it isn't he will probably outgrow it :)

[wannabmomof3]

I think it's just early to determine if it's a "real" problem at his age because it is quite common. Does he stick he tongue out when he says the lispy things?

I would definitely mention it to the pedi and see what he/she says but I wouldn't rush to any speech therapists just yet....

Yes, he sticks out his tongue.

And what's a tongue tie? I've casually heard it here and there on the forums, but not quite sure what it is? What are some characteristics of a tongue tie?

I think I'll mention it to his dentist too the next time we go. He hates the dentist lol so idk how good of a look she's gonna get lol. Thanks girls :)

[Gwenn]

Lisping is normal at three. As an SLP I wouldn't treat a lisp in a child younger than 5.

You would know a tongue tie if you saw it. Just ask him to stick out his tongue. It should be round on the end - when a child has a significant tongue tie, it looks heart-shaped. There is a piece of skin that holds the tongue to the floor of the mouth, and if it's too short, it prevents the tongue from moving freely. The heart shape comes from that piece of skin holding the center of the tongue down.

[tapir]

I would ask his ped next time to double check that he doesn't have a submucous cleft palate. It's rare but I saw it once in a kid whose speech was not quite right. It's not a big deal in the grand scheme and it's a long shot at best so don't stress about it. Bottom line, "lisping" is normal until at least age 5.

[puppy wuv]

Lisping is normal at three. As an SLP I wouldn't treat a lisp in a child younger than 5.

You would know a tongue tie if you saw it. Just ask him to stick out his tongue. It should be round on the end - when a child has a significant tongue tie, it looks heart-shaped. There is a piece of skin that holds the tongue to the floor of the mouth, and if it's too short, it prevents the tongue from moving freely. The heart shape comes from that piece of skin holding the center of the tongue down.

This :) DH has one. He can barely get his tongue past his teeth and has the heart shape. He doesn't have a lisp but was told by a doctor that they are common for people with them.

[wannabmomof3]

I looked at DS tongue and noticed something I always knew he had. It's a slight indentation in the middle of his tongue. Ever so slightly but it's there. What's that mean?

[Gwenn]

How slight? A normal tongue does have a tiny indentation, so you might be looking at a normal tongue and just worrying. I'd definitely ask either your pedi or an ear, nose, and throat doctor to take a look.

For kids who do have a tongue tie that affects their speech, basically the family has to make a choice between leaving it as is, lisp and all, or having the frenulum (below the tongue) clipped. Some parents don't want to have that done. A tongue tie won't respond to therapy, though. BUT - not every tongue tie affects speech. I have a minor one and my speech is not affected (but I don't have the heart-shaped tongue).

ETA: if he is able to extend his tongue past his lips, there's no problem. Just so long as the tongue can move freely.

[Gwenn]

This link (http://www.smileconcepts.com/tongue-ties.shtml) has some pictures of tongue-tie in babies and children. Take a look - it isn't a slight indent. It really does look like a heart.

[wannabmomof3]

This link (http://www.smileconcepts.com/tongue-ties.shtml) has some pictures of tongue-tie in babies and children. Take a look - it isn't a slight indent. It really does look like a heart.

Thanks for that. Okay so definitely not tongue tie, but I do believe he may have a really slight slight dent in the middle of his tongue. Underneath his tongue isn't that connected as the pictures, but I do notice (and have always noticed) a really slight line in the middle of his tongue right where the picture of the Child sticking out its tongue. He can stick his tongue out past his lips, but I wanna see how far. I'm trying to think about it, but feel like I'm thinking too hard so now I'm questioning how far he sticks his tongue out. If that makes sense lol.

Thanks for helping me out :)

[Gwenn]

A little indentation is normal. I think you're just worrying. He's fine!

[babykenny]

Lisping is normal at three. As an SLP I wouldn't treat a lisp in a child younger than 5.

You would know a tongue tie if you saw it. Just ask him to stick out his tongue. It should be round on the end - when a child has a significant tongue tie, it looks heart-shaped. There is a piece of skin that holds the tongue to the floor of the mouth, and if it's too short, it prevents the tongue from moving freely. The heart shape comes from that piece of skin holding the center of the tongue down.
Super interesting! Thanks!!!!

[V]

My DD was born tongue-tied and had the 'snip' at 14 days old (it was severely tied in two places) and she couldn't feed properly..I knew there was a problem with feeding but had not noticed her tongue?! All the latch consultants said she was latching well (and she was, but couldnt suck) It was only noticed on day 12 by the health visitor as she continued to lose weight. Anyway, she had it cut as much as poss, but still has the heart shape tongue. She lisped quite a bit at 3, but is outgrowing it now and her speech is very good despite still being a little tied (edited: she's 4 now). I think its a common speech-learning phase regardless of whether tongue tied or not.

On a side - personal - note, glad to see info posted about tongue-tie here as it is very common yet very rarely spotted by the 'professionals'.. a quick look is all it takes! I say this because even my DD's dry lips did not trigger any warning bells to me (or the many midwives I pestered to check her feeding) that she could not extend her tongue at all?! Yes, I'm still very hurt, ashamed, and angry about this! Such a little problem can cause so much needless worry and heartache.

Sorry to hijack your thread OP, I read a lot of useful info here at this site and hope this might help someone avoid what we went through.

[wannabmomof3]

V- no need to apologize :) I appreciate everyone's response :)