To determine factors influencing the permanency of a protrustional lisp and to incorporate them into predictive profiles, approximately 8,000 kindergarten children were screened for articulation and those appearing to have a protrusional lisp were tested individually. The 1,043 subjects exhibiting such a lisp were examined semiannually for 4 years with a battery of speech and other tests; their school records were assessed; no speech therapy was given. The data for the 475 subjects who remained, based on recovery and nonrecovery by the end of grade 3, were formulated into seven profiles, one for each testing period. The pattern indicated that no single test or subtest proved to be predictive at all periods. Results demonstrated a consistent increase in the number of subjects recovering, with 56% recovering without therapy. Higher recovery rates were found among subjects with a protrusional lisp only or with less severe articulation problems initially and more rapid reduction of errors throughout. Also, subjects producing [t,d,n,l] with the tongue tip and not the blade had a better chance to recover without therapy. (Author/JD)