Mon Sep 22 21:40:00 UTC 2025: **News Article:**
**Kennedy Jr.’s Raspy Voice Prompts Questions: A Look at Spasmodic Dysphonia**
**Washington D.C.** – Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s voice garnered attention during last week’s Senate Finance Committee hearing regarding vaccine policies and the CDC. His noticeably raspy and strained vocal delivery prompted questions about his health.
The 70-year-old Kennedy suffers from spasmodic dysphonia, a rare neurological condition affecting an estimated 50,000 people in North America. This disorder causes involuntary spasms in the vocal cord muscles, leading to a voice that can sound strained, shaky, breathy, or hoarse.
Kennedy has been open about his diagnosis, which he received in 1996 at age 46. He explained that his voice was strong before the diagnosis. Spasmodic dysphonia has no cure, although treatments like Botox injections, voice therapy, and thyroplasty can help manage the symptoms. Despite the challenges posed by his condition, Kennedy continues to engage in public discourse, bringing attention to this rare disorder.
First Piper 