Voice Unearthed

The primary message young children get in stuttering therapy is that they can and should manage their speech - in other words, try to not stutter - by utilizing speech tools and techniques. Is it possible that the anxiety this causes can create an even greater burden? Can that burden lead to excessive silence and disengagement - a far greater handicap than the stuttering itself? Through personal narrative and extensive research, Voice Unearthed answers these questions with a resounding “yes!” It also includes practical guidance that helps keep children talking while minimizing everyone’s anxiety around communicating. Voice Unearthed frees us from the pointless, painful chore of counting speech errors and reminds us to keep our eyes on what truly matters. It’s also a wake-up call for parents, professionals, and the entire field of speech therapy – and a reminder to “first do no harm.”

The primary message young children get in stuttering therapy is that they can and should manage their speech - in other words, try to not stutter - by utilizing speech tools and techniques. Is it possible that the anxiety this causes can create an even greater burden? Can that burden lead to excessive silence and disengagement - a far greater handicap than the stuttering itself? Through personal narrative and extensive research, Voice Unearthed answers these questions with a resounding “yes!” It also includes practical guidance that helps keep children talking while minimizing everyone’s anxiety around communicating. Voice Unearthed frees us from the pointless, painful chore of counting speech errors and reminds us to keep our eyes on what truly matters. It’s also a wake-up call for parents, professionals, and the entire field of speech therapy – and a reminder to “first do no harm.”

Doreen (Dori) Lenz Holte is a professional writer who spent the past 20 years providing communications and writing support ot non-profit organizations. She graduated from the University of Minnesota, and completed graduate work at Hamline University and the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis. Dori encourages teens and adults to find their voice through her Writing Into Insanity workshops. Dori, along with her husband, Peter, and three sons, Abe, Adam, and Eli, live in the North Branch area, north of St. Paul, Minnesota.