Adult Articulation Therapy

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Articulation Therapy is appropriate for individuals who have differences in patterns of speech sound production. At SpeechAppeal, we most often work with adults on Lisp and R-Sound Remediation. Adults are often incorrectly led to believe that articulation therapy past childhood is hopeless, but we're here to tell you otherwise!

 

​Articulation Therapy is not the same as speaking clearly, enunciating words, or reducing mumbling (visit Professional Communication for more support with these concerns).

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Why Articulation Therapy for Adults is Different

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Articulation therapy for adults is different than for children as adults learn and apply information differently. Our clinicians have adult-specific experience with articulation therapy and use a variety of adult-centric techniques, such as explicit learning of sound production, auditory training and discrimination training between old and new patterns, drill practice, and use of a systematic approach to application to reduce associated fears and anxieties that have developed in relation to having a speech difference.

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Our approach incorporates:

• Explicit instruction on how sounds are produced

• Auditory discrimination training to help you hear and correct differences

• A structured, step-by-step progression to ensure steady progress

• Skill transfer strategies with practice in real-life simulations so you can confidently use your new speech patterns in daily life
   

Unlike children's therapy, which often relies on play-based approaches, adult articulation therapy is direct, goal-oriented, and designed to fit within your professional and personal communication needs.

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Let's Talk About Lisps

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A lisp is a distortion of speech sounds, most commonly the "s" and "z" sounds, but a lisp can also affect the “ch”, “j”, “sh” and “zh” (as in “beige”) sounds. The distortion in sound production is created due to tongue placement. You might think of it as an airflow problem—the tongue is directing airflow through the mouth, but the air is ending up at a less ideal place.

To produce an /s/ sound, the tongue is positioned to direct airflow from the lungs through a very narrow groove in the middle of the tongue, which produces turbulence in the airstream. We hear this as a high-pitched hissing sound; because it is such a high-frequency, high-energy sound (as well as being one of the most frequent sounds in English), any deviations in this sound tend to be quite obvious to listeners.

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Sometimes lisps are caused by structural issues, such as dental or jaw alignment. In this case, your clinician can work with you to find the most optimal production in the presence of a structural issue.

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Types of Lisps:

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• Interdental Lisp: The tongue fully protrudes between the teeth, as it also does for the “th” sounds, resulting in a “dull” sound. For example, the word “pass” may sound like “path".

• Dentalized Lisp: Similar to an interdental lisp, the tongue is positioned farther forward than a typical /s/, but does not fully protrude from between the teeth. The resulting distortion may be pronounced or subtle.

• Lateral Lisp: Instead of flowing through the narrow groove in the middle of the tongue, the air flows around the sides of the tongue, resulting in a "slushy" sound.

• Palatal Lisp: With a palatal lisp, the air is directed toward the hard palate, which is the bony “roof” of the mouth behind the teeth. The tongue is positioned too far back, creating a “shushy” sound (Think: Sean Connery).

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R-Sound Remediation

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Another common articulation challenge for adults is difficulty producing the "r" sound. Unlike lisps, which primarily involve airflow direction, "r"-sound distortions are often related to tongue positioning and muscle coordination.

The English "r" requires a complex tongue movement, where the tongue either bunches toward the back of the mouth or lightly curls toward the alveolar ridge (the ridge behind the upper teeth). Some individuals produce a distorted "r" that may sound too close to "w" or lacks the necessary resonance.

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Our approach to R-sound remediation includes:

• Explicit teaching of tongue positioning and movement

• Auditory discrimination training to hear and feel the difference between correct and incorrect productions

• Targeted drill exercises to strengthen motor patterns

• Gradual integration of the correct "r" into words, phrases, and spontaneous speech

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By following a structured and personalized approach, we help adults achieve a natural and confident "R" sound that blends seamlessly into their everyday speech.​
 

Ongoing Support and Check-Ins

Once strong foundations are built, we remain available for tune-ups and check-ins to ensure your speech stays on track as life changes. Whether it's preparing for a major presentation, navigating new social environments, or simply maintaining confidence in your speech, we’re here to support you whenever you need a refresher.
 

Take the Next Step

If you've been considering articulation therapy but assumed it was too late, we're here to help. With the right techniques and expert guidance, change is possible. If you're an Ontario resident, try a Free Online Meet-and-Greet or book your New Client Intake and take the next step toward clear, confident speech!

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