Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, delivered an emotional speech at the memorial event for Charlie Kirk at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on September 21. In his emotionally charged speech, RFK Jr. also compared the late conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA to Jesus Christ. While his speech was moving, people also noticed something else – a quiver in his voice. If you have listened to any of RFK Jr.’s previous public speeches, you may have heard the same.Why does his voice sound gravely and raspy? Kennedy has a condition called spasmodic dysphonia. He has earlier discussed how the condition robbed him of his strong voice in his early 40s.
File photo of Robert F Kennedy Jr (Pic credit: AP)
“At that time, I was making a lot of my income doing public speaking, and I could speak to large halls without any amplification,” Kennedy said in an interview with News Nation.“When I was 42 years old, I got struck with a disease, a neurological disease, an injury called spasmodic dysphonia, and it makes my voice tremble. I think it makes it problematic for people to listen to me. I cannot listen to myself on TV,” he added. Here’s everything you should know about spasmodic dysphonia.What is spasmodic dysphonia?
Spasmodic dysphonia is a neurological disorder that affects the voice muscles in the larynx, also called the voice box. Also known as laryngeal dystonia, this condition causes involuntary spasms in the larynx or voice box, causing the voice to break and result in a tight, strained, or strangled sound. In some people, the breaks can happen once every few sentences, and in severe cases, the spasms could occur on every word. This condition is rare and affects around 500,000 people in the US.When you speak, air from your lungs is pushed between two elastic structures called vocal folds, causing them to vibrate and produce your voice. In spasmodic dysphonia, the muscles inside the vocal folds spasm (make sudden, involuntary movements), interfering with vocal fold vibrations, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. This condition may occur along with other dystonia forms that lead to repeated spasms in other parts of the body, including the eyes, face, jaw, lips, tongue, neck, arms, or legs.What are the symptoms?
Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr (AP image)
Spasmodic dysphonia can affect anyone; however, the first signs occur between the ages of 30 and 50. It is more common in women than in men. The symptoms may come and go, and are often similar to those of other voice disorders. However, this condition may make the voice:
- Tight and strained
- Hoarse and raspy
- Broken because a certain sound cuts off while you’re speaking
- Breathy and soft, as if you are whispering
- Shaky or trembling
How is this condition diagnosed?Spasmodic dysphonia, thought to be caused by abnormal functioning in the basal ganglia area of the brain, sometimes runs in families. The diagnosis often becomes difficult, as the symptoms are similar to those of other voice disorders. However, with the help of an otolaryngologist, speech-language pathologist, and neurologist, the condition can be diagnosed. There is currently no cure for spasmodic dysphonia; however, treatment can help reduce its symptoms.
Voice therapy, Botulinum Toxin Injections (BTX), Selective Laryngeal Adductor Denervation-Rennervation (SLAD-R), Type II ThyroplastY, oral medications, and myofascial release are some of the treatment options.
