Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s distinctive, strained, and shaky voice is caused by a rare neurological condition called spasmodic dysphonia. This disorder causes involuntary spasms in the muscles that control his vocal cords, making his voice sound broken, strained, or breathy. Kennedy has had this condition for decades, with symptoms starting in his early 40s, and it is a chronic condition without a cure. His voice trembles, especially at the beginning of speaking, due to these spasms. Treatments such as botulinum toxin injections (Botox) and surgery have been tried, but the underlying neurological cause in the brain's neural network remains challenging to fully treat. Kennedy has said he wishes his voice sounded better, but the injury is neurological, and sometimes his voice actually gets stronger the more he uses it.

What is Spasmodic Dysphonia?

Spasmodic dysphonia is a rare voice disorder caused by abnormal nerve signals in the brain leading to involuntary muscle contractions in the vocal cords. It affects about 50,000 people in North America, mostly emerging in midlife. The condition disrupts normal speech but does not affect other vocal functions like laughing or crying. It usually results in a broken, strained, or breathy voice sound.

Kennedy's Experience and Treatments

Kennedy noticed symptoms while teaching and received his diagnosis after consultation with experts. He has undergone botulinum toxin injections every few months to reduce spasms and even had a titanium bridge surgery in Japan to keep his vocal cords from pressing together, which he credits partly for some improvement. However, these treatments are not a cure, and research continues into brain-centered therapies like deep brain stimulation to address the root neural causes.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s voice condition has attracted public attention due to his prominence, and spasmodic dysphonia remains a challenging disorder impacting his communication but not his overall health.