--- title: What to Know About the Condition That Affects RFK Jr.'s Voice description: Here’s what to know about how common spasmodic dysphonia is, what causes it, and how it’s treated. canonical: https://time.com/7211071/rfk-jr-spasmodic-dysphonia-voice-vocal-disorder/ author: Angela Haupt article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2025-01-29T20:40:14.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-19T07:49:58.957Z article:section: Health og:title: What to Know About the Condition That Affects RFK Jr.'s Voice og:description: Here’s what to know about what causes spasmodic dysphonia and how it’s treated. og:url: https://time.com/7211071/rfk-jr-spasmodic-dysphonia-voice-vocal-disorder/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltec40a18c3dcbf14e/6998b2cf1f67098caff54241/GettyImages-2196602974.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1024 og:image:height: 576 og:image:alt: Senate Holds Confirmation Hearings For HHS Secretary Nominee Robert Kennedy og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: What to Know About the Condition That Affects RFK Jr.'s Voice twitter:description: Here’s what to know about what causes spasmodic dysphonia and how it’s treated. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltec40a18c3dcbf14e/6998b2cf1f67098caff54241/GettyImages-2196602974.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # What to Know About Spasmodic Dysphonia, the Condition That Affects RFK Jr.'s Voice > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME Health Matters: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition Health Matters is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. The latest health news and expert advice on living well. Health Matters makes the fast-moving world of health more useful, surprising and human, from the latest science and medical breakthroughs to practical ideas for living better. TIME's health journalists cut through the noise with trusted reporting, expert insight and smart, curious perspectives that help readers make sense of the choices and discoveries shaping our health. 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Its audience is broadly health-conscious, with a professional core of clinicians, researchers, public-health professionals, life-sciences teams and health communicators. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-health-2026q3/newsletters?i=4de12652-c5fa-4d7f-ba25-cb1def4b08b3&cr=time-nl-health-2026q3-v1) ## Video: RFK Jr. Grilled on Vaccines in Contentious Senate Hearing [Watch (HLS stream): RFK Jr. Grilled on Vaccines in Contentious Senate Hearing](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/2fqRpYmV.m3u8) (8:33)  _Published 2025-01-29. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was grilled by Senators in his first confirmation hearing for Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Wednesday, during which he struggled to convince lawmakers that he is not “anti-vaccine” and appeared unfamiliar with key aspects of healthcare insurance programs and other policies he would oversee._  by [Angela Haupt](https://time.com/author/angela-haupt/)  ## Angela Haupt Jan 29, 2025 8:40 PM UTC  by [Angela Haupt](https://time.com/author/angela-haupt/)  ## Angela Haupt Jan 29, 2025 8:40 PM UTC Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., President Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, speaks with a raspy quiver in his voice. That’s because he has spasmodic dysphonia, a rare neurological condition that causes the muscles affecting the vocal cords to spasm. Kennedy has previously spoken about the way the condition affects his life. He “can’t stand” his voice, [he told the Los Angeles _Times_ last year](https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2024-04-08/rfk-jr-voice-condition-spasmodic-dysphonia). “I feel sorry for the people who have to listen to me,” he said in a phone interview with the outlet. “My voice doesn’t really get tired. It just sounds terrible. But the injury is neurological, so actually the more I use the voice the stronger it tends to get.” Here’s what to know about how common spasmodic dysphonia is, what causes it, and how it’s treated. ## **What is spasmodic dysphonia?** Spasmodic dysphonia (SD) is a rare disorder that causes involuntary movements of the voice box, says Saul Frankford, an assistant professor in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences at the University of Texas at Dallas who has researched the condition. About [1 in 100,000 people worldwide have it](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4940852/). There are two main types of SD. Adductor spasmodic dysphonia, which is the kind Kennedy has, means “the vocal folds press too tightly together during speech,” Frankford says. “That causes this raspy or creaky kind of voice, often with voice breaks, as well.” Abductor spasmodic dysphonia, which is less common, causes the vocal cords to suddenly open. “That leads to a breathier kind of voice,” he says. **Read More**: [_11 Ways to Respond When Someone Insults a Loved One’s Disability_](https://time.com/7202210/disability-questions-remarks-how-to-respond/) SD is sometimes referred to as laryngeal dystonia. Other types of dystonia include writer’s cramp and neck dystonia, and both occur during active movements, Frankford says, like knee-jerk contractions in the fingers, hand, or forearm. ## **What causes spasmodic dysphonia?** People usually develop SD in their 40s or 50s—Kennedy was diagnosed in 1996, [at age 42](https://people.com/what-to-know-about-robert-f-kennedy-jr-s-vocal-disorder-spasmodic-dysphonia-8701558)—and scientists aren’t exactly sure what causes it. “It does essentially come out of nowhere,” Frankford says. [Some research suggests](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11889373/) that people with the condition report having upper respiratory infections or acute periods of stress and anxiety, both of which could play a role in triggering it, he adds. There’s also a genetic component. The exact percentage of cases in which genetics play a role is unclear, though Frankford estimates around 10% to 20% of people with the condition have family members who have it, too. ## **Does it affect all kinds of vocal activities?** Spasmodic dysphonia is considered a task-specific type of dystonia, which means it affects regular speech. It’s less likely to impact other types of vocal activities, Frankford says, including laughing, crying, whispering, and sometimes even singing. ## **How is spasmodic dysphonia diagnosed?** SD is difficult to diagnose. Because it’s so rare, not every doctor knows about it, Frankford says. [Research suggests](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2643054/) it takes an average of four to five years for patients to get an accurate diagnosis. “There’s a real problem with getting an accurate diagnosis, especially because it both overlaps with and resembles some other more common voice disorders, like muscle tension dysphonia,” he says. **Read More**: [_What to Do If Your Doctor Doesn’t Take Your Symptoms Seriously_](https://time.com/7209940/doctors-appointment-medical-symptoms-not-taken-seriously/) Part of the issue is that there’s nothing physically wrong with the voice muscles. “It’s a neurological disorder, but it’s not something you can see on an MRI scan,” Frankford says. “It’s not like there’s a tumor or stroke or something.” According to [Johns Hopkins Medicine](https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/spasmodic-dysphonia), speech-language pathologists often test voice production and quality, and a doctor might check the vocal folds by passing a small tube through the nose and into the voice box. ## **Is there a cure for spasmodic dysphonia?** SD is a lifelong condition that never goes away. “But it does vary depending on how stressed or tired someone is,” Frankford says. ## **Are there treatments?** The typical treatment for SD is Botox injections into the larynx muscles. “You inject the muscles of the larynx with Botox, around the vocal folds, and it weakens the muscles,” Frankford says. There are some short-term side effects, like breathiness, but over time, “it actually leads to a more typical voice.” Since Botox wears off after a couple months, however, people typically need to get it done again every two to five months. “You’d have to do this constantly, for as long as it works,” he says. [According to _NPR_](https://www.npr.org/2025/01/29/nx-s1-5279176/rfk-voice-spasmodic-dysphonia), Kennedy said on _The Diane Rehm Show_ in 2005 that he received Botox injections every four months. **Read More**: [_Botox: The Drug That’s Treating Everything_](https://time.com/4623409/botox-drug-treating-everything/) Meanwhile, researchers are exploring potential drug options, and there are some surgeries that cut the nerve that controls the movement of the larynx. But they're not always successful, making surgery a less-than-ideal option. Some people with SD choose to go to vocal therapy, which can help, Frankford says, but “it doesn't get rid of it.” Voice therapy tends to be more effective for people with muscle tension dysphonia, like teachers who talk all day and then lose their voice. ## **What is it like to live with spasmodic dysphonia?** Living with SD can be stressful. In studies, [up to 62%](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6074012/) of people with the condition have been found to have anxiety and depression. And there’s [some evidence](https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/files/simonyanlab/files/wnl.0000000000011602.full%5F.pdf) that there’s an increased risk of suicide in this population. “Communicating is an important part of the human condition,” Frankford says. “When you’re not able to communicate effectively, or when it’s more challenging, it’s definitely going to take a psychological toll. You don't want to interact with other people if you don't think your voice sounds the way you want it to.” Unfortunately, people with SD are often mocked about the way their voice sounds. Frankford stresses that it’s a neurological condition, which means it’s not anybody’s fault that they have it. Plus, it doesn’t reflect any sort of cognitive or psychological issues. “It’s not like an indication of someone’s cognitive abilities, or their abilities to think and interact with other people,” he says. ## Transcript Chairman, Ranking Member Wyden and members of this distinguished committee. I'm humbled to be sitting here today as President Trump's nominee to oversee the US Department of Health and Human Services. I want to thank President Trump for entrusting me to deliver on his promise to make America wealthy again. I also want to thank Cheryl and Kick and Bobby and all of my other children who are here today, and all the many members of my large extended family for the love that they have so generously shared. Ours has always been a family that has been involved in public service, and I look forward to continuing that tradition. Before I conclude, I want to make sure the committee is clear about a few things. News reports have claimed that I'm anti vaccine or any industry. I am neither. I am pro safety. No harm. We'll have order. Please proceed, Mr. Kennedy. I am pro safety. I worked for years to raise awareness about the mercury and toxic chemicals in fish. And nobody called me any fish. And I believe that my that vaccines play a critical role in health care. All of my kids are vaccinated. I've read many books on vaccines. My first book in 2014, the first line of it is I am not anti-vaccine. And the last line is I am not anti-vaccine, nor am I the enemy of food producers. American farmers are the bedrock of our culture, of our politics, of our national security, Mr. Kennedy. All of these things cannot be true. So are you lying to Congress today when you say you are pro pro-vaccine or did you lie on all those podcasts? He asked me, are there vaccines that are safe and effective? And I said to him, some of the live virus vaccines are. And I said, there are no vaccines that are safe and effective. And I was going to continue for every person, every medicine has people who are sensitive to them, including vaccines. So he interrupted me at that point. I've corrected it many times, including on national TV. You know about this, Senator Biden. So bring this up right now is dishonest. Let's be clear about what you've actually done then, since you want to deny your statements. For example, you have a history of trying to take vaccines away from people. In May of 2021, you petitioned the Food and Drug Administration to not only block Americans from having access to the Covid vaccine, but to prevent any future access to the life saving vaccine. Are you denying that your name is on the petition. We brought that petition after the CDC recommended the Covid vaccine without any scientific basis or six year old children. Most experts agree today, even the people who did it back then at Covid, vaccines are inappropriate for six year old children who basically have a zero risk from Covid. That's why I brought that lawsuit. I don't want to I want to emphasize. The. Fact I don't. Know the facts. The fact. That the committee will be in order. The nominee wrote a book saying that people had been misled into believing that measles is a deadly disease. He's trying now to play down his role in Samoa. That's not what the parents say. That's not what Governor Green says. It's time to make sure that we blow the whistle on actually what your views are. At least we're starting. We need to move on. I support the measles vaccine. I support the polio vaccine. I will do nothing as HHS Secretary that makes it difficult or discourages people from taking any. Anybody who believes that ought to look at the measles book you wrote saying parents have been misled into believing that measles is a deadly disease. That's not true. So I'm asking you, yes or no? Mr. Kennedy, did you say that Covid 19 was a genetically engineered bioweapon that targets black and white people, but spared Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people? I didn't say it was deliberately targeted. I just I just quoted an NIH funded and NIH published study. Did you say that it targets black and white people but spared Ashkenazi Jews? You quoted a study. Your honor, I quoted an NIH study that showed that. I'll take that as a yes. I have to move on. Mr.. I have to move on. Did you say that Lyme disease is a It is highly likely a materially engineered bioweapon. I made sure I put in the highly likely. Did you say Lyme disease is a highly likely militarily engineered bioweapon? I probably did say that. Did you say that? That's what. The developer. Of. I want all of our colleagues to hear it. Mr. Kennedy, I want them to hear it. You said yes. Did you say that exposure to pesticides causes children to become transgender? No, I never said that. Okay, I have the record that I'll give to the chairman, and he can make his judgment about what you said. Did you write in your book? And I. It's undeniable that African American African Aids is an entirely different disease from Western Aids. Yes or no, Mr. Kennedy? I'm not sure if I may. Okay. I'll give it to the chairman. Mr.. Mr. Kennedy, and my final question. Did you say on a podcast, and I quote, I wouldn't leave it abortion to the States. My belief is we should leave it to the woman. We shouldn't have the government involved, even if it's full term. Did you say that, Mr. Kennedy? Senator, I believe that every abortion is a tragedy. Did you say it, Mr. Kennedy? This matters. It doesn't matter what you come here and say that isn't true. That's not reflective of what you really believe that you haven't said over a decade after decade after decade. Because unlike other jobs, we're confirming around this place, this is a job where it is life and death. For the kids that I used to work for in the Denver Public Schools and for families all over this country that are suffering from living in the richest country of the world, that can't deliver basic health care and basic mental health care to them. It's too important for the games that you're playing, Mr. Kennedy. And I hope my colleagues will say to the president, I have no influence over him. I hope my colleagues will say to the president, out of 330 million Americans, we can do better than this. Thank you. We need to move on. But you also said we need to trust the women to make that choice. Because I don't trust government to make any choices. You said that too, right? Yes. It is remarkable that you have such a long record of fighting for women's reproductive freedom. And really great that my Republican colleagues are so open to voting for a pro-choice HHS secretary. So, Mr. Kennedy, I'm confused. You have clearly stated in the past that bodily autonomy is one of your core values. The question is, do you stand for that value or not? When was it that you decided to sell out the values you had your whole life in order to be given power by President Trump? Senator, I agree with President Trump that every abortion is a tragedy, that we can't be a moral authority in this country. Right. So but that isn't what you said back in New Hampshire in 2023. My question is, exactly when did you decide to sell out your life's work and values to get this position? 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