Talking About Speech Impediments
 

I have a speech impediment known as a "lateral" lisp. From Wikipedia:

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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, [ʪ] and [ʫ].

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Basically, I pronounce the letter "s" using the side of my tongue and mouth. I have tried to pronounce it using the tip of my tongue and my front teeth (which I have gathered is the correct way), but it sounds even worse.

Over the years it has been a big source of insecurity for me. I was teased mercilessly throughout school. Many times, it is difficult for people to understand what I am saying. You can imagine how this would affect one's romantic life and professional career. It seems like it gets even worse when I get nervous and my mouth gets dry.

I have decided to see a speech therapist to attempt to correct my problem. Has anyone had any experience with one, especially as an adult?

The reason I started this thread was to provide a resource of support and advice for those with speech problems. Please share your stories.

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

my bro-in-law is a speech pathologist. what do you want me to ask him?

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

Attempt to change your vocabulary in a way that will enable you to talk in an appropriate way, without appearing to have an impediment. It will require deliberately picking every word you utter, but it could very well be worth it. You be the judge here.

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

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my bro-in-law is a speech pathologist. what do you want me to ask him?

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where does he work, and how much does he make?


My gf is in grad school now for speech, and i need that ho to hurry up and get a j-o-b.

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

I knew a kid who had a lisp in high school. He improved it a lot, instantly got lots of ladies.

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

My biggest question is can I be sure that the therapist will be able to significantly help my problem before I pay him a lot of money? Are most speech impediments "curable" with treatment?

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

In addition, you may want to think about picking each vacation you take according to different criteria. For example, Germany can be a wonderful country in which to kick back and relax. England, too. Your real problem will be attempting to travel to an area like the country right next to Germany. Any of them.

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

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Attempt to change your vocabulary in a way that will enable you to talk in an appropriate way, without appearing to have an impediment. It will require deliberately picking every word you utter, but it could very well be worth it. You be the judge here.

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I actively do this already, but it is really, really hard to avoid the letter using the letter s. I mean, it's a Wheel of Fortune given letter in the bonus round.

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

But I am having an incredibly good run at avoiding typing a particular letter or phoneme... damn I'm good.

edit: yeah I know... I just wanted to see if anyone else would pick up on it. Too late though lol.

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

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I knew a kid who had a lisp in high school. He improved it a lot, instantly got lots of ladies.

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This is the ultimate goal.

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

Did you ever see a speech therapist growing up? If not, why?

Has it become better or worse over the years?

Does anyone in your family also have a speech impediment?

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

[ QUOTE ]
In addition, you may want to think about picking each vacation you take according to different criteria. For example, Germany can be a wonderful country in which to kick back and relax. England, too. Your real problem will be attempting to travel to an area like the country right next to Germany. Any of them.

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Almost, but the word in bold would be a problem for me.

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

Is it Lou Holtz level?

Good luck with this, man.

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

Sounds like more of a speech minor annoyance. Just thank your lucky stars that you don't have a stutter.

**edit**

Sorry, that sounded kinda douchy. What I meant to say is that you seem to be on the lower end of the speech impediment spectrum. It sounds like you have something that can be fixed, or at least minimized. Kids with a bad stutter don't have much hope.

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

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Did you ever see a speech therapist growing up? If not, why?

Has it become better or worse over the years?

Does anyone in your family also have a speech impediment?

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It has gotten better over the years. When I was young, it was very bad. When I became aware of it and realized what was causing it, I was able to control it more.

I guess I never went to a speech therapist because I wasn't aware that there was someone that could help me with this particular problem until probably age 19 or so. It seemed to me that people who went to speech therapists were kids with learning disabilities, not bright guys like me. I guess it was some combination of embarrassment and unwillingness to admit that I have a serious speech problem.

There are those who tell me or have told me it's not that bad. I guess I have tended to believe those people even though I'm not sure if they were just trying to make me feel better. Regardless, it is a big source of insecurity for me, and that is all that really matters.

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

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Is it Lou Holtz level?

Good luck with this, man.

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The Lou Holtz lisp is more of an "interdental" lisping combined with a slight "lateral".

From Wiki:
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"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 (like the sound [th]).

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Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

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Sounds like more of a speech minor annoyance. Just thank your lucky stars that you don't have a stutter.

**edit**

Sorry, that sounded kinda douchy. What I meant to say is that you seem to be on the lower end of the speech impediment spectrum. It sounds like you have something that can be fixed, or at least minimized. Kids with a bad stutter don't have much hope.

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I do realize that my speech problems are minimal compared to what others have to deal with. However, after doing a search and finding no threads dealing with speech impediments, I thought it would be nice to have a place where I could talk about my lisp and invite other 2+2ers to do the same.

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Sounds like more of a speech minor annoyance. Just thank your lucky stars that you don't have a stutter.

**edit**

Sorry, that sounded kinda douchy. What I meant to say is that you seem to be on the lower end of the speech impediment spectrum. It sounds like you have something that can be fixed, or at least minimized. Kids with a bad stutter don't have much hope.

[/ QUOTE ]
I do realize that my speech problems are minimal compared to what others have to deal with. However, after doing a search and finding no threads dealing with speech impediments, I thought it would be nice to have a place where I could talk about my lisp and invite other 2+2ers to do the same.

[/ QUOTE ]

Even after my edit, I'm afraid I still sounded douchy; sorry pal. I'll just say good luck, and I'm sure that with as many users as 2+2 has, you'll be able to hear stories and advice from others suffering from the same affliction.

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

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Kids with a bad stutter don't have much hope.

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[img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

I've always had a thing for dudes with lisps and/or limps.

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

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I've always had a thing for dudes with lisps and/or limps.

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Amputee porn is kinda hot too.

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

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[ QUOTE ]
my bro-in-law is a speech pathologist. what do you want me to ask him?

[/ QUOTE ]

where does he work, and how much does he make?


My gf is in grad school now for speech, and i need that ho to hurry up and get a j-o-b.

[/ QUOTE ]

he works for a public high school in the SF bay area. he makes a teacher's salary, but I think there was some talk of his district bumping the sp's pay to counselor level.

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

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My biggest question is can I be sure that the therapist will be able to significantly help my problem before I pay him a lot of money? Are most speech impediments "curable" with treatment?

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I'll bump the thread in a few days after I talk to him

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

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Kids with a bad stutter don't have much hope.

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[img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

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I have a stutter which has improved alot through speech therapy, but for the most part i am too lazy/busy to stick with it. Also these days if a stutterer is treated young enough the % cured is very high

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

There's a particular speech impediment/affect that I hear a lot, but I can never seem to find out what it's called. If anyone is familiar with Phil Bourque, who does color commentary on the radio for Penguins games, what's his deal? Is there a name for the way he talks?

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

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I've always had a thing for dudes with lisps and/or limps.

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Cartoon cats and pirate films must be huge turn-ons for you. No doubt you own a copy of "The Princess Bride".

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

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[ QUOTE ]
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Kids with a bad stutter don't have much hope.

[/ QUOTE ]
[img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

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I have a stutter which has improved alot through speech therapy, but for the most part i am too lazy/busy to stick with it. Also these days if a stutterer is treated young enough the % cured is very high

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How young are we talking? I know it's treatable in really young children, but I've always thought that once you reach your teen years you're pretty much SOL.

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

lolz @ having a lisp... just don't dress too fruity or you might get mistaken for a ... fruit... cake.... with... your lisp...

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

We all have our issues - I limp in 3-legged fashion.

Good news is you can overcome your lisp with practice & patience. Bob Dole overcame his 'incurable' stuttering by fluttering his eyelids uncontrollably when he speaks. Now his speech is perfectly normal.

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

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lolz @ having a lisp... just don't dress too fruity or you might get mistaken for a ... fruit... cake.... with... your lisp...

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You're an idiot.

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

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lolz @ having a lisp... just don't dress too fruity or you might get mistaken for a ... fruit... cake.... with... your lisp...

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You're an idiot.

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QFT.

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

i dont speak your mumbo jumbo qft = ?

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

are speech impediments something fudged up with the brain's functions physically, something muscular in the mouth, or just a comprehension thing, or all three?

i refuse to google, so shutup, that's why.

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

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I've always had a thing for dudes with lisps and/or limps.

[/ QUOTE ]
[img]/images/graemlins/ooo.gif[/img]

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

[ QUOTE ]
I have a speech impediment known as a "lateral" lisp. From Wikipedia:

[ QUOTE ]
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, [ʪ] and [ʫ].

[/ QUOTE ]
Basically, I pronounce the letter "s" using the side of my tongue and mouth. I have tried to pronounce it using the tip of my tongue and my front teeth (which I have gathered is the correct way), but it sounds even worse.

Over the years it has been a big source of insecurity for me. I was teased mercilessly throughout school. Many times, it is difficult for people to understand what I am saying. You can imagine how this would affect one's romantic life and professional career. It seems like it gets even worse when I get nervous and my mouth gets dry.

I have decided to see a speech therapist to attempt to correct my problem. Has anyone had any experience with one, especially as an adult?

The reason I started this thread was to provide a resource of support and advice for those with speech problems. Please share your stories.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't have a speech impediment. But, I do have an experience I can share with you. My stepdaughter, who I first met when she was five, had a speech impediment that was corrected with therapy. Her particular issue was that, despite living in the midwest, she sounded as thoush she was from Boston. Her "r's" were "ahhs" and her "t's" were "d's" etc. etc. T

The other kids at school did make fun of her. I remeber thinking that there is nothing crueler in this world than a first grader with someone to pick on.

Ironically, I was from Boston, so we spoke exactly the same. I of course made a big deal about meeting someone from my hometown and how nice it was to hear someone speak properly.

At any rate, sadly, she soon entered therapy and learned to pronounce all those sounds like everyone else in the midwest. About this same time, I started a business and I noticed that people were reacting negatively to my accent. So, I started working on reducing my accent.

I don't know if the two efforts correlate. But, as an adult, I was able to get rid of my accent. I had to retrain the way I pronounced words, and to do so required thinking about forming the letters correctly. If I am tired or angry, I will lapse. But, for the most part, I was able to eliminate the accent.

In regards to your speech impediment, as long as the cause is not an irreperable or non-compensatable mechanical defect, you should be able to correct the problem.

With regard to your self-esteem and the abuse you suffered as a kid. First off, F all those people who made you feel bad. Most of them were attacking you to make themselves feel better and were/are idiots anyway.

In addition to going fo rspeech therapy, you may want to consider setting and achieving some other goals. For men, physical goals tend to produce good results. Skydiving, martial arts, boxing or even running. If you can do something like that, in tandem with therapy, you should be able to power boost your self-confidence and minimize your insecuruities.

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

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i dont speak your mumbo jumbo qft = ?

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It means you have to be a special kind of douche to make douchebag comments in this thread.

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

How do other people deal with their stutters. Mine used to be bad when i was a kid, and then got bad again during later years of high school, but recently at college i seem to have it under control, and keep it to a minimum.
Most the time it only crops up when i want to say a good line in a group convo, and i just get stuck on the first letter of the first word, usually without actually making a sound, so its prob not noticable, just very annoying.

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

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Talking About Thpeech Impedimenths

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Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

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i dont speak your mumbo jumbo qft = ?

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It means you have to be a special kind of douche to make douchebag comments in this thread.

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Very touchy my friend I hope I didn't offend you and your closet space.

Re: Talking About Speech Impediments
 

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With regard to your self-esteem and the abuse you suffered as a kid. First off, F all those people who made you feel bad. Most of them had Liz Lieu avatars.

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