Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said he has spasmodic dysphonia, a neurological voice disorder that causes a strained, shaky voice.
What he said
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said he has spasmodic dysphonia, a neurological voice disorder, since around 1996.
What it is
Spasmodic dysphonia is a rare disorder in which the vocal cords spasm, causing a strained, tight or breathy voice. It affects about 1 in 100,000 people.
Cause
Unknown. It involves the brain’s control of the voice muscles.
Treatment
Botox injections to vocal muscles help temporarily.
Note
There is no cure.
Voice condition
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has spoken publicly about spasmodic dysphonia, a neurological voice disorder. He said he was diagnosed in the 1990s, and it gives his voice a strained, raspy or breathy quality. The condition involves involuntary spasms of the laryngeal muscles when speaking.
- Spasmodic dysphonia is rare, affecting about 1 in 100,000 people, and usually appears in adulthood, between ages 30 and 50, per the NIDCD.
- The most common type is adductor spasmodic dysphonia, causing a strained, choppy voice. The abductor type produces breathy voice breaks.
- The cause is unclear, probably a neurologic disorder of the basal ganglia region, and it can run in some families.
Treatment
There is no cure. Botulinum toxin injections into the laryngeal muscles are the main treatment, lasting about 3 to 4 months, and voice therapy can help. Speech remains understandable but effortful. The condition does not affect thinking, and it is not related to the person’s political views or health beyond the voice.
Voice condition
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said publicly that he has spasmodic dysphonia, a neurological voice disorder causing involuntary vocal cord spasms that make the voice strained or breathy. It typically begins in midlife and affects about 1 in 100,000 people.
Treatment
Botulinum toxin injections into the vocal muscles are the standard treatment and relieve symptoms for about 3 to 4 months. Voice therapy helps some.
Diagnosis and cause
Spasmodic dysphonia is a focal dystonia in which vocal fold muscles spasm during speech. Adductor type, the most common (about 80 percent), causes a strained, strangled voice. It usually begins between ages 30 and 50 and affects about 50,000 Americans. The exact cause is unclear and may involve basal ganglia and genetics.
Care
There is no cure. Botulinum toxin injections are standard and last about 3 months. Voice therapy supports it. Surgery (type II thyroplasty or selective denervation) is rare. Kennedy has described it in interviews and in a 2024 New York Times interview as a condition he has had since childhood. Stress does not cause it, but can worsen symptoms.
Based on data from the National Spasmodic Dysphonia Association and the NIDCD
