Online Speech Therapy Helped This Future Counselor Overcome a Lisp and Speak with Confidence
Alexis Irazoque, M.S., CCC-SLP
Claudia always knew her speech sounded a little different. But she didn’t realize how much that subtle difference had shaped her confidence, both in how she felt about herself and how she communicated with others.
Now, after six months of online speech therapy, she’s stepping into her future as a counselor with clearer speech and a stronger sense of self.
A voice that deserved to be heard clearly
“I’ve had a lateral lisp since childhood. It was always there in the background,” Claudia explained. Now 42, Claudia lives in North Carolina with her 8-year-old daughter. “I did speech therapy when I was a kid, but we stopped around age 12. It didn’t really work, and eventually, my parents gave up on it.”
Over the years, Claudia earned multiple degrees, pursued her passions, and raised a daughter. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, traveling, and occasionally filming for her small YouTube channel. Though most people didn’t notice her speech difference throughout her life, Claudia always did.
To compensate, Claudia found creative ways to over-articulate other sounds when she was younger, especially when reading aloud. “I used to read Shakespeare out loud and really focus on pronouncing words clearly,” she said. “That helped me build strong patterns in a lot of ways. But the lisp stuck around, and I eventually realized I needed a few simple, targeted corrections to address it.”
A new motivation and a new approach
When Claudia began graduate school to become a counselor, her motivation to address her speech became clearer than ever. She wanted to communicate with confidence, especially in a profession centered on helping others express themselves.
That’s when she decided to try speech therapy again–this time, as an adult. She found Expressable through a Google search and began working with speech-language pathologist Leah Roop, M.S., CCC-SLP.
“Leah is fantastic. She’s warm, professional, and empathetic,” Claudia shared. Leah took the time to listen to what Claudia was experiencing and crafted a treatment plan tailored to her goals.
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Leah observed that Claudia’s lateral lisp affected the clarity of certain sounds in everyday conversation, especially “sh,” “ch,” and “j.” A lateral lisp happens when the sides of the tongue aren’t raised, which causes air to escape around the sides of the tongue. A lateral lisp is often described as sounding “slushy” or “mushy.”
Together, they began working at the sound level, using verbal and visual cues to support Claudia’s learning. “There was a moment when I said the ‘ch’ sound correctly, without the lisp,” Claudia said. “That was a breakthrough. I thought, Wow, I can actually do this.”
The ‘sh’ sound was the hardest, but I was determined. Once I finally understood the tongue placement, it became easier and more natural.
Through their sessions, Claudia learned exactly where to place her tongue and how to coordinate her airflow. These were small changes that made a big difference. She practiced at home, recorded herself on her phone, and even asked her daughter for feedback. She and Leah built custom word lists based on real conversations Claudia would have in everyday life, from graduate school presentations to casual chats.
“The ‘sh’ sound was the hardest, but I was determined,” she said. “Once I finally understood the tongue placement, it became easier and more natural over time.”
As Claudia progressed through the articulation hierarchy, practicing sounds, words, phrases, and eventually conversation, her confidence soared. “You could see the self-confidence improve,” Leah shared.
A clearer voice and a deeper understanding
After six months of online speech therapy, Claudia graduated from the program in June 2025. “It’s going to help me when I become a counselor,” she said. “I feel more confident and comfortable speaking now.”
She added, “Leah helped me better than any therapist I had as a kid. I was able to get rid of this lateral lisp for good, after many years of feeling that it would be impossible. Leah was observant, experienced, and very kind and aware.”
Online therapy was super convenient, and it changed my life.
But Claudia’s journey wasn’t just about correcting a speech sound. It was part of something much bigger. “Finding out about my Level 1 autism helped everything click into place,” she said. “It gave a lot of context to my speech challenges, and it made this process feel so much more meaningful.”
Life-changing speech therapy
Today, Claudia is finishing her counseling degree, considering starting a podcast, and continuing to be a loving and inspiring mom. Speech therapy not only gave her the tools to improve her speech, but it also helped her reconnect with herself.
“Online therapy was super convenient as a single mom and grad student,” Claudia said. “And it changed my life.”
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Claudia took a bold step, and it paid off in ways she couldn’t have expected. If you're wondering whether speech therapy could help you or your child, let us help. Take our free screener to get started, or get matched with a licensed speech therapist today.
How Expressable Can Help
Concerned your child isn't reaching age-expected milestones? Looking for communication support from a professional? Expressable is a national online speech therapy practice serving children and adults. We treat all major areas of communication and feeding, offer flexible hours including evenings and weekends, and accept most major health insurance plans. We’re proud to have earned more than 3,000 5-star reviews from our clients (4.9/5 average).
Our therapy model is centered on parent and caregiver involvement. Research proves that empowering caregivers to participate in their loved one’s therapy leads to better outcomes. That’s why we combine live, 1-on-1 speech therapy with personalized education and home practice activities for faster progress.
Communication is more than words. It’s how we share how we feel and show who we are. We’re here to help you or your child do just that.
