Expert: Janice S., M.S. CCC-SLP - 11/1/2008

Question
I have been plague my entire life with misinterpretation due too my speech problems.  I went to a therapist (when I was younger); receive the tongue clipping but ultimately was told that I had "lazy tongue".  I am 24 in a promising career where communication is key (life threatening).  I need to get a handle on this ASAP.  Is there help?  I've goggled as much info about 'lazy tongue'.  I don't stutter but I did have an over critical parent.  But my self-esteem isn't low.  I was diagnosed with extended growth in my lower jaw.  I just want to fix this.

Answer
Hi Johnta.  Thank you for your email.  The reason that you have not found much on "lazy tongue" is because it is not an actual diagnosis.  My guess is, that you have an articulation disorder.  I would recommend you see a speech language pathologist who has worked with adults with articulation disorders.  The assessment will not only assess your articulation skills at the word, sentence and conversational level, but also do an examination of the structure and function of the oral mechanism.

If therapy is recommended, it will require you to work hard and diligently, due to your age and the fact that the errors are so ingrained.  To find a speech pathologist you can look in the yellow pages, call a local hospital that may have a speech/language department, an outpatient rehabiliation center, ask your physician, go to asha.org or universities that offer this as a major often have clinics.  Make sure that the therapist has experience with adults and absolutely make sure that they have at least a masters degree, have their ccc's (certificate of clinical competence) or if they are doing their clinical fellowship are highly supervised.  If you go the route of the university clinic, these are students that are closely supervised by their professors and that is fine too.  I bring this up, because in some rural areas, speech aides or assistants are being used.  They are not qualified to do evaluations and often are not supervised enough to provide strong therapy.

Best of luck to you.  If you have more questions, please email.