VARIABILITY OF TONGUE-TIP PLACEMENT:

ACOUSTICALLY STANDARD PRODUCTION OF /S/ CROSS-CULTURALLY SARA ROSENFELD-JOHNSON, M.S., CCC-SLP

5. Analysis of the data revealed the following information

INTRODUCTION 1. Analysis of the data reported by the 785 subjects related to
An extensive survey of the literature, speech therapy texts, and published revealed: 44% produced the /s/ with the tongue-tip bilingual English and Spanish speaking subjects:
/s/ therapy programs revealed that tongue-tip up position was the manner pointed down, 36% produced the /s/ with the tongue-tip BILINGUAL ENGLISH AND SPANISH
in which the /s/ sound was produced. Most of these references suggested tensed in the middle neither pointed up nor pointed down,
the following treatment strategy for children with frontal or inter-dental and only 20% of the subjects produced the /s/ with the 7%
MIDDLE
lisps on a school-based caseload: Instruct the individual to “Close the tongue-tip pointed up. 11%
UP
teeth, put the tongue-tip on the magic spot (alveolar ridge) and say /s/.” ALL SUBJECTS - ACROSS CULTURES
Therefore, speech-language pathologists have historically been encouraged
to teach the tongue-tip up position to address lisps.
20% 83%
UP DOWN

HYPOTHESES 44%
DOWN
The following hypotheses were made and evaluated:
1. There is variability of tongue-tip placement (up, down, midline) 36%
for the acoustically standard production of /s/ unrelated to age. MIDDLE RESULTS OF THE PHASE II – 100
TONGUE-TIP DOWN

REQUIRED TONGUE-TIP UP POSITION 80

2. There is variability of tongue-tip placement (up, down, midline) The results of this phase 60

for the acoustically standard production of /s/ cross-culturally. indicated that when individuals 40
2. Analysis of the data revealed variation in tongue tip who habitually used the 20
3. The acoustically standard production of /s/ is based upon a) tongue position across ages (10 years to 78 years) tongue-tip down position were 0
100% Success Rate 3% Success Rate

blade retraction with b) lateral margin elevation, c) tension in the

required to use the tongue-tip -20
tongue-tip and d) variability of tongue-tip position. 3. Analysis of the data revealed the following information up position, an acoustically -40
related to international locations where English was the lateral production of /s/ was -60
METHOD first language. elicited 97% of the time; -80
Over the past 7 years, a survey was conducted with 785 children and only 3% of the time was the -100
97% Failure Rate

adults between the ages of 10 and 78 years, who presented with standard UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CANADA TONGUE-TIP UP

acoustic production standard.

acoustic production of /s/ on English words and conversational levels. PRODUCING /S/ SOUND

The Questionnaire was completed by speech-language pathologists,

occupational therapists, physical therapists, special educators, parents, 24%
UP 32%
25%
UP
CONCLUSION
34%
children, and others who attended a variety of conferences (within the DOWN DOWN The results were consistent with the hypotheses regarding variability
United States and internationally). All participants spoke and read English. of tongue-tip placement with consistency of tongue blade placement
across age groups and across cultures. The survey (completed by
44%
PHASE I - No instructions other than those listed on the Questionnaire MIDDLE
41%
MIDDLE 785 individuals between the ages of 10 and 78 years in seven (7)
were provided. The participants completed the Questionnaire countries including the United States) revealed that cross culturally
independently without consultation with the investigators or others. 44% produced the /s/ with the tongue-tip down, 36% produced
the /s/ with the tongue-tip in the middle (neither up nor down),
4. Analysis of the data revealed the following information and only 20% produced the /s/ with the tongue-tip up. However,
PHASE II - Once the questionnaire was completed, the second stage of the
related to international locations where English was not an extensive survey of the literature, speech therapy texts, and
study was implemented. All participants who identified the “tongue-tip
the first language. published /s/ therapy programs suggested that tongue-tip up
down” position as their preferred placement for the /s/ sound were asked
to produce the sound following the directions suggested in the Introduction position was the manner in which the /s/ sound was produced most
section of this poster: “Close your teeth, put your tongue on the magic SWEDEN FINLAND HONG KONG commonly. In this survey, tongue-tip up position was used by the
spot (alveolar ridge) and say /s/.” fewest participants. Therefore, the results of this survey imply:
11%
10% UP 18%
UP UP
COPY OF QUEST
QUESTIONNA

Name: (option
IRE:

al) ____________
QUESTIONNA
IRE:
IONNA IRE 1. Speech-language pathologists (who assume children and adults
produce the standard /s/ based upon how they themselves
______ _______ ______
Country of residen
ce ______________
Name: ____ (option
Date:
al) ____________
___________________
25% 26%
MIDDLE
RESULTS OF THE PHASE I -
____________ ______
___
____ Date: ______
Countr
______y of
__Age:
residen __________________ MIDDLE 22%
produce the /s/ or how they have been taught the /s/ is
1. Please check _______
ce _______
______ _______ _________
_______
any of the followi
ng that apply:1. Please check
______
_______
______
______
________Age:
_____________ 65% 63% MIDDLE 62%
any of the followi ______________

QUESTIONNAIRE DOWN DOWN

Ο Speech-Langu ______
age Pathologist ng that apply:
DOWN
produced) may teach an incorrect tongue-tip placement, thereby
Ο Specia
Ο Speech
l Educat
Ο Occupational -Langu
or age Patholo
Therapist gist Ο Special Educat

The results of this survey indicated

Ο Parent
Ο Occupational or
Ο Physical Therap Therapist

inhibiting progress or even creating a lateral production of the

ist Ο Parent
2. Is English your Ο Other:
Ο Physic______
al ______
Therap ______
ist
first language? _____

there was consistent placement of the 2. Is Ο Ο Other: ______

English
Yes your first _________________

sibilant sounds.
Ο No language?
If no, what is
your first langua Ο Yes
ge? _______ Ο No
_______
If no,______
what_______

tongue blade within the oral cavity

3. Are you receivi is your_______
first langua
______ge?_______
_______
__ _____________

4. Say the sound

ng speech therapy
now for the3. /s/
Areoryou/z/ sounds
receiving? speech
Ο Yestherapy
______________
_____________
__ MEXICO PUERTO RICO
now
Ο No

cross-culturally. The tongue blade was

of the letter /s/. for the /s/ or /z/
sound until you Feel where4. sounds? Ο Yes
your

2. 83% of bilingual speakers who consider Spanish to be their

can answer the Say tongue
the sound
is placed Ο No
following questio of thein letter
your mouth.
/s/. FeelRepeat
Ο my tongue tip
sound
ns. until
Checkyouonly
can one:
answer the followi
where this
your tongue is
placed in your 5%

retracted with the sides of the tongue

is pointing up ng questions. mouth. Repeat
Check only one: this UP
primary and/or first learned language use the tongue-tip down
Ο my tongue tip
Ο my tongue tip is pointing up
is pointing down
Ο my tongue tip
20%
blade elevated to make contact with
Ο my tongue tip is pointing down
is in the middle
UP 15%
5. Have you ever
been a client in
speech therapy
Ο my tongue tip
is in the middle MIDDLE
position consistently in both Spanish and English. Because
the side teeth as pictured below:
5. ?Have youΟever
Yesbeen a client Ο Noin speech
44%
there are so many children in the United States (US) who are
If yes, what speech therapy?
sounds did you Ο Yes
If you worked
Ο
on /s/ or /z/ and
work on? _______
were you taught
If yes, what
______speech
_______sounds
_____________
did you_______
Ο No DOWN
Up Ο Down Ifatyou
specifi
worked work on? _______
Ο Middle c tongue
on /s/tip _____________

bilingual Spanish-English speakers, this information needs to be

orplacem
/z/ andent were
what _____________
Ο Up youwas
taught
it? at specifi _______
6. Look at the Ο Down c tongue tip placem
upper jaw, palate Ο Middle ent what was
it?
the back of your
tongue is touchin
and teeth as picture
6. Look d below.
at the upper 36%
considered when planning a speech therapy program within the
Use your
jaw,pencil
palateorand
g your plate when
the back youofsayyour
thetongue
/s/ sound.
penteeth
is touching your
to color
as picture
whered below.
Use your pencil
MIDDLE 80%
plate when you
say the /s/ sound.
or pen to color
where DOWN

Public Schools in the US.

3. It is the responsibility of the speech-language pathologist to

   
     
identify the most acoustically appropriate tongue-tip position
 
for each client prior to teaching tongue-tip placement for the
production of /s/.
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