RFK on Trump’s mental state: ‘He’s very sane’
When asked about President Trump’s many posts on Truth Social, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said that President Trump is “very sane.”
If you turned on a news channel or scrolled through social media this week, you likely saw a question on the voice of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The secretary’s recent testimony at a Senate hearing has reignited curiosity about his unique speech pattern, which sometimes wavers and pauses. Kennedy spoke at length about the condition that causes his voice to shake, saying on a News Nation broadcast in June 2023 that he began noticing changes in his voice in his 40s, before he was diagnosed with paroxysmal dysphonia.
“Until I was 46, I had a very strong voice. It was unusually strong. Even then, I made much of my income from public speaking,” he said. “In 1996, when I was 42 years old, I suffered from a neurological disorder, or injury, called paroxysmal dysphonia, which caused my voice to shake.”
He continued, “I didn’t know what the problem was at the time. But when I went on TV, people wrote me letters and said, ‘You have paroxysmal dysphonia.'” That makes it a problem for people to listen to me. I can’t hear myself on TV. I will never listen to this broadcast. ”
Kennedy went to Japan in early 2023 in search of treatment, where he underwent what he called a “novel” surgery that left his voice “much better.”
Kennedy is one of thousands of people in the United States alone who suffer from this disorder, which can affect speech on many levels.
Here’s what you need to know about the condition.
What is spasmodic dysphonia?
Spasmodic dysphonia, also known as laryngeal dystonia, is a neurological speech disorder that affects the ability to speak and control the voice. It is considered a “rare” disease and affects about 500,000 people nationwide, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Symptoms usually begin between the ages of 30 and 60 and can include inconsistent changes in the voice that “come and go,” according to the Cleveland Clinic. These are caused by uncontrolled spasm of the vocal cords, affecting the ability to produce consistent sounds.
The vocal cords, or vocal cords, are located inside the larynx, colloquially called the “voice box,” and are located in the throat. As the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) explain, air is normally forced out of the lungs through the folds and vibrates in a controlled pattern to produce sound when we speak.
In spasmodic dysphonia, the area of the brain responsible for involuntary muscle movements, called the basal ganglia, is affected. When that area sends the wrong message to the body, uncontrollable movements called spasms can affect various muscles.
In spasmodic dysphonia, vibrations in the folds in the larynx can cause the folds to connect too tightly or too loosely, which can result in a strained voice or a sound like weak breathing, the Cleveland Clinic explains.
The ’cause’ of spasmodic dysphonia is unknown, but up to one in four people have a family history of the disorder. Women are up to three times more likely to be diagnosed.
According to ASHA, NIDCD, and Cleveland Clinic, there are three types of this disorder:
- Adductor spasm dysphonia: The most common symptoms are caused by tension in the cord, causing a “strained” or “hoarse” speech.
- Abductor spasm dysphonia: This is caused by the vocal cords being too loosely connected, resulting in a weak or breathy sound.
- Mixed spasmodic dysphonia: This is the rarest form of the disorder and combines symptoms of both other types.
Symptoms and treatment of spasmodic dysphonia
The most common symptom of all three types of spasmodic dysphonia is a trembling or “shaky” voice. According to the Cleveland Clinic, other common symptoms vary depending on the type and may include:
- tense and tight
- hoarse and raspy voice
- Breathing, soft, whisper-like sounds
- It is broken because certain sounds cut out when speaking
- tremble or tremble
Voice changes can appear quickly, but more often they start slowly or sporadically. According to ASHA and the Cleveland Clinic, stress and fatigue can worsen symptoms, which can be exacerbated by vocal stress, such as speaking to a crowd in a noisy place or on the phone.
Spasmodic dysphonia usually affects only the speaking voice. This means other vocalizations, such as singing, laughing, and whispering, are usually not affected.
The disorder is chronic, meaning it lasts a lifetime, and there is no specific treatment. Common treatments include Botox injections, which block the nerve signals that cause seizures. Speech therapy is often used in conjunction with Botox. and surgical options.
In some cases, people with spasmodic dysphonia may use communication aids or devices that translate text into speech.
Other famous people and celebrities who suffer from spasmodic dysphonia
Kennedy’s battle with paroxysmal dysphonia has come to the forefront since Trump took office, but he is not the only person to share his diagnosis in the public eye.
In 2019, actress Selma Blair noted that her multiple sclerosis causes paroxysmal dysphonia and that her voice was shaking more than usual in an interview with Good Morning America.
Popular NPR radio personality Diane Rehm hosted a news talk show with 3 million weekly listeners from 1979 to 2016, despite being diagnosed with paroxysmal dysphonia in 1998.
Darryl McDaniels of Run-DMC fame was diagnosed with the disease in 1997 but went on to have a successful career. He was friends with other musicians such as country singer Johnny Bush, British singer-songwriter Linda Thompson, and singer Jimmie Rodgers.
The late Scott Adams, creator of the comic book series “Dilbert,” similarly spoke to NBC about his diagnosis and recovery in 2006.
