Mattie Said:

I have a speech problem. Can anyone help?

We Answered:

It sounds to me from the reactions you are getting from the surgeons that they are not optimistic they can fix the problem. So continue to look intio the therapies. I suppose you have explored every possible therapy - including all those that you can research on line. There must be some therapy groups for this problem that you can contact and who may be able to steer you to other therapies.

James Said:

Is there any way to Cure or Diagnose a heavy Tongue Thrust aka "Lisp"?

We Answered:

granted im not a doctor, but lets think of it as just a mental problem.

sounds like a condition that can be healed. first, lets switch your thinking. tell yourself, "i speak normally" or "i have no lisp".

lets consider that is it all in your head. might sound like a long shot. but it is only if you think it is.

positive thoughts my friend. to break your anxiety, try getting a job where you have to be in front of people.

i had a problem being social for a long time. i grew up as an only child, so my social skills did not develope quite as they should. i had a problem with speaking to groups or even sometimes one on one to people. so i got a job as a waiter. i had to reverse my way of thinking. almost like i was thrown in the water and had no choice but to swim.

maybe this would be good for you. just starting speaking slower. you might sound even worse at first, but it takes that to get better..

like i said im no doctor, and i have no experience in this, but anything is worth trying....

Derek Said:

tongue rings. . . speech?

We Answered:

Wow, these answers sound ridiculous. I have had my tongue pierced for 5 years and I have never had a problem with my speech. The only time that I had a problem was the first couple of days after I got it pierced because of the swelling. Usually it goes away after a couple of days and it never comes back. Don't worry about it and get the tongue ring if you want it! Do your research first but it shouldn't be a problem.

Mario Said:

Tongue thrust and speech?

We Answered:

I am a speech pathologist and have worked with kids with these issues. Don't be too worried right now. I have found that many young children do present with a forward tongue presention, part of this might be just normal structures. Typically, at this age, if your child still has his tonsils and adenoids, they are very large, thats because the size of your childs head is small, as he grows he will have more room in his oral cavity. The tongue protrudes because there is less space in there and he moves his tongue forward to make breathing easier. Again, if this is part of the reason, as he gets older this is likely reduce as a problem. I am wondering if your therapist means your child has a reverse swallow or just tongue protrusion. Is she wanting to work on this with your child to correct how he says words, or to correct his swallowing?
But I must stress, I don't know all the issues with your child. Without the whole picture take my ideas with a grain of salt.
I would also wonder if your child is prone to respiratory infections, colds etc. If so, he may be stuffy alot of the time and that would cause the tongue protrusion as well.
You def. need to start thinking about breaking the thumb sucking. It can mess with his dental alignment later on if he does it too much.

Sue Said:

I have large tongue and also have tongue thrust disorder. Would glossectomy be an appropriate treatment?

We Answered:

I would consider an evaluation by an ENT (ear, nose and throat specialist) and then decide. Surgery on the tongue is not a fun thing and I would make doubly sure that it was the correct route to take. Good Luck

Jill Said:

Has Kris Allen had speech therapy?

We Answered:

Maybe he has.

Emma Said:

Speech Therapy during braces?

We Answered:

Go to speechtails.com to Amy's Corner - she is a speech pathologist and will answer specific questions. I have gotten a quick response from her on a couple of concerns. I use her site with my daycare kids and it has helped a ton!!!!! Good Luck