Defining and Remediating Persistent Lateral Lisps in Children Using Electropalatography

Abstract

Electropalatography (EPG) was used to train two 8-year-old girls with persistent lateral lisps. Pretreatment evaluations showed that the two speakers differed in the manner in which they produced lisps. Subject 1, who produced errors for /s/ and /z/ sounds only, produced these errors with linguapalatal closure across the alveolar ridge and no contact at the region of the molars. She remediated quickly (17 treatment sessions) and could produce correct productions in conversation when monitored. Subject 2 produced errors for the alveolar sibilants, the palatal sibilants, and the affricates. She produced these errors with linguapalatal contacts along the alveolar processes using a midline groove similar to that used for palatal sibilants. A rounded tongue configuration was suspected to occur that allowed for midline air passage as well as air passage through the buccal cavities. Subject 2 made minimal gains after 28 treatment sessions. Possible causes for the different performances of the two subjects are discussed.