What am I missing with lateral lisp

Hi Sandra.  Hope all is well with you!  I have a question re: a 13 year old with a lateral lisp.  He is easily able to narrow his tongue at will during the exercise and has good tongue/jaw dissociation during oral movements.  However, once /s/ is produced, the lateral sides go right up to those molars!!  He can identify the spot correctly, but lateral emission occurs when he established lingual/alveolar contact.  What am I missing?? Jo

Hi, first, be absolutely sure he passed all of the proficiency exam#1.  Then it is important that he accomplishes the “whispered /t/” exercise along with the ta da na la exercise.  Once he has perfected those two, then extend the “whispered /t/” into a “tssssss” until he can achieve that tssss combination well.  Then go into vowel plus tssss (a-tsssssss, e-tsssssss, ow-tssssss, etc.)  Then move into words that end with tssss that do not have any competing S or Z sounds in the words (ca-tsssss, ma-tssssss, hea-tssssss, etc.)  Then move to sentences that have no competing words or sounds (I want my hatsssss, Mom gave me batsssss, etc.) Next, move to coarticulation (I want my hatssssssome day,  Mom gave me batssssssSaturday morning, etc.) When you get to that point, let me know and I’ll help guide you further if needed.  The secret is to establish the base thoroughly at each level and “sneak” into the next level of success.  Let me know if you understand all of the above or need more clarification and I’ll wait to hear how things are moving along, Jo! Sandra