Lateral Lisp

The Visual: Imagine a butterfly. The body is the middle of your tongue. The wings are the sides.

The Action: Lift the "wings" (sides of the tongue) up to touch the top back teeth (molars).

The Groove: This creates a groove in the middle for the air to travel straight.

The Sound: Push air down the "slide" (the groove) straight out the front. "T-T-T-Tsssss." (Starting with T helps get the tongue tip up and sides anchored).

Place a short straw in the center of the child's mouth (resting on the tongue, sticking out the front).

Ask them to say "Sssss" and try to blow air through the straw.

If they are doing a lateral lisp, no air will come out of the straw (it goes out the sides).

If they hit the target, they will hear the air whistling through the straw.