Why does RFK Jr.’s voice sound raspy? Here’s what to know

When Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared at Capitol Hill on Wednesday for his confirmation hearing as potential health and human service secretary, some may have noticed that his voice had a raspy, strained sound.

The potential HHS head has spoken of his voice over the years and noted that he was diagnosed long ago with a disorder called Spasmodic Dysfonia.

“I had a very, very strong voice until I was 46 years old,” Kennedy said during an interview with News National in 2023. “It was exceptionally strong … It makes my voice shake. At the time, I didn’t know what was wrong with it.

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He was officially diagnosed with the condition in 1996, he shared.

In April 2024, Kennedy Los Angeles Times told him he “hates” the sound of his own voice.

“I think sorry for the people who have to listen to me,” he said. “My voice doesn’t get really tired. It just sounds awful. But the damage is neurological, so actually, the more I use the voice, the stronger it tends to get.”

He added, “If I could sound better I would.”

What is spasmodic dysphonia?

Spasmodic dysphonia is a rare speech disorder that affects the vocal cords, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Those affected may have strained, hes or shaking voices that can sometimes make it difficult for others to understand them. Sometimes words are cut off due to breaks in the voice.

“I think sorry for the people who have to listen to me.”

The condition may cause stress or anxiety for the affected person, noticed the above -mentioned source.

The condition is neurological and derives from an area of ​​the brain causing spasms in the muscles of the voice box. There is no known trigger for these spasms.

There are three main types of spasmodic dysphonia, per. Cleveland Clinic.

Most people have adductor -spasmodic dysphony that makes the voice sound strained, tight and hes.

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Abductor spasmodic dysphonia, the second most common type, causes a respiratory voice or loss of voice loss.

A rarer type, mixed spasmodic dysphonia, makes the voice sound strained, tight and breathing.

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About 500,000 people in the United States have spasmodic dysphonia, which is more widespread among women. Symptoms typically emerge in adult age between 30 and 60 years per year. Cleveland -Clinic.

Potential therapies

“Voice therapy and Botox can help, but there are no courier,” Dr. Marc Siegel, Senior Medical Analyst for Fox News, to Fox News Digital about the suffering.

With the Botox method, small amounts of botulinum toxin are injected into the voice box muscles to stop the spasms.

Kennedy has previously said he is receiving Botox injections every few months when he told “The Diane Rehm Show” in 2005.

With voting therapy, a spoken language or respiratory therapist can recommend specific voting board exercises to help relieve symptoms per day. Cleveland Clinic.

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In extreme cases, some surgical interventions can help facilitate the spasm of the voting report.