What Happened to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Voice? All About the Condition That Causes His Raspy Tone | Robert F. Kennedy Jr. | Just Jared: Celebrity News and Gossip
If you have been watching Robert F. Kennedy Jr.‘s confirmation hearing, you might be wondering what is wrong with his voice.
The 71-year-old politician is President Trump‘s selection to lead the US Department of Health and Human Services and he was grilled by lawmakers during a hearing on Wednesday (January 29) in Washington, D.C.
RFK Jr.‘s raspy voice features a tremble or quiver, which he has had for decades due to a condition.
Keep reading to find out more…
Kennedy was diagnosed with the rare neurological condition spasmodic dysphonia many years ago.
“I have a tremble in my voice … particularly when I first start talking,” he previously said in 2004 during an appearance on The Diane Rehm Show.
The organization Dysphonia International notes that the condition “is a chronic neurological voice disorder and a focal laryngeal dystonia. It results in involuntary spasms of the muscles that open or close the vocal folds, causing a voice that presents with breaks and strained/strangled quality or breathy quality, depending on the type of spasmodic dysphonia (adductor or abductor).”
It’s estimated that 500,000 people in the U.S. suffer from spasmodic dysphonia.
Pictured inside: RFK Jr.‘s wife Cheryl Hines sitting behind him at the confirmation hearing.
