Why Does RFK Jr Sound Like that? Doctors Dissect Spasmodic Dysphonia

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation hearing as the head of the US Department of Health and Human Services began Wednesday, and people across watched as the 71-year-old responded to pointed questioning from senators. Many people are paying careful attention to the hearing to find out more about the nominee’s plans for the future of healthcare in the United States, but some have taken issue with RFK Jr.’s gravelly voice.
Kennedy has previously discussed this in public. He has spasmodic dysphonia, a disorder that causes his voice to tremble dramatically, and he is not happy about it in an article published In Kennedy told the Los Angeles Times in April 2024 that he “can’t stand” to hear his “dreadful” voice. “If I could, I’d sound better.
Kennedy claimed that the flu shot was “at least a potential culprit” in the onset of his spasmodic dysphonia and that he first became aware of a change in his voice in 1996. He did admit to the publication, though, that there is no evidence to support this. Additionally, RFK Jr. has played a significant role in the anti-vax campaign.
However, his hearing has brought the condition back into the public eye, surpassing his credentials for the US government. Indeed, one of the most popular searches on Google is “Why is RFK’s voice so gravelly?” we invited experts to talk about RFK Jr.’s voice as well as everything else we know about spasmodic dysphonia, such as its causes and treatment options.
But his hearing put the situation back into the limelight, considering his merit for the US government. In fact, “Why is Rak’s voice so gravel?” There is a breakout word on Google. Next, we asked doctors to weigh RFK Junior and everything else to know about their condition—what is the reason for spasmodic dysphonia and how it is treated?
Professionals Included in This Article:
Philip Song, MD, Massachusetts, is the director of the Eye & Year’s Lerringology Division and an assistant professor of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery at Harvard Medical School.
Omid Mehdijadeh, MD, Santa Monica, Providence, CA, is an otolaryngologist and laryngologist at St. John Health Center.
Spasmodic dysphonia: What Is It?
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) states that spasmodic dysphonia affects the vocal muscle in the larynx, also referred to as the voice box.
Air is forced out of your lungs through the vocal folds during speech. Your voice is then produced by the vibration of those cords. according to Phillip Song, MD, assistant professor of otolaryngology—head and neck surgery at Harvard Medical School and director of the laryngology division at Massachusetts Eye & Ear, spasmodic dysphonia interferes with those vibrations by causing the muscles inside the vocal folds to spasm.
According to NIDCD, spasmodic dysphonia is a chronic disease that can occur suddenly and usually lives throughout a person’s entire life. Nevertheless, it is considered a rare condition. According to Dysphonia International, spasmodic dysphonia affects about 50,000 individuals in North America.
Why does rfk jr sound like that?
Although each person’s experience with spasmodic dysphonia is unique, the situation usually affects the voice comprehensively. Dr. According to Song, “The Voice arrives is very stressful,” “Voice is also brakes.”
Although people with severe forms of spasmodic dysphonia may experience discomfort, the disorder is often not painful “You might feel like someone is choking you,” Dr. Song explains. “There seems to be a lump around the neck sometimes.”
Dr. According to Song, speaking a lot can further increase symptoms for people with spasmodic dysphonia. Dr. According to Song, it makes it difficult for those who have “vocal career demands,” such as politicians and teachers.
How Do You Treat Spasmodic Dysphonia?
People with spasmodic dysphonia have access to a variety of medical alternatives. Dr. Mehdijadeh claims that a little injection of botulinum toxin, or “botox,” into the laryngeal muscles is the “gold standard” of treatment. “It helps in the vocal folds that are spreading to relax,” they say.
Dr. According to the song, patients receive every three to six months or five-minute doses as required. “Many people will come to a program,” they say. “People with jobs that require a lot of vigor often travel. Near the end of summer vacation, many teachers in my practice will come [for injections] in an attempt to prepare for the upcoming school year.
The first aid for spasmodic dysphonia is botox injection, but Dr. Song, according to recent research by sodium oxybate, an oral drug that is often used to treat narcolepsy, can also help with symptoms.
Dr. According to Song, vocal therapy can also teach people how to take better care of themselves. However, spasmodic dysphonia is usually a permanent problem. As Dr. Mehdijadeh pointed out, “It will not usually go away on its own.”