Kerry Kennedy, the president of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, is a big name in the advocacy scene thanks to her dedication to social justice. A prominent American lawyer and activist, she is the daughter of the late Robert F. Kennedy. Her father, a former U.S. senator, was the brother of the 35th U.S. President John F. Kennedy. The 64-year-old, Kerry, has lived up to her family title and made some significant contributions of her own in her career, but they have not come without challenges.
You only need to listen to Kerry Kennedy in public once to understand her struggles in speaking. So, why does she talk like that? Let’s uncover the details of her illness.
Kerry Kennedy’s Illness Explained: Understanding Spasmodic Dysphonia
Kerry Kennedy has a condition called spasmodic dysphonia, a neurological disorder affecting her voice. While not a serious illness and unlikely to cause other health complications, it can significantly impact a person’s ability to speak and communicate. This has certainly affected Kerry’s quality of life, work, and social interactions to a certain degree.
This vocal disorder is typically diagnosed by an ear, nose, and throat expert or a voice specialist. Treatment options include voice therapy, botox injections into the vocal muscles, and sometimes surgery. While there is no cure, these treatments can help manage symptoms and improve voice quality.
Kerry’s brother, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., also shares this condition that messes with his voice, causing involuntary muscle spasms in the larynx. Public speaking is a challenge for both siblings as it makes their voices sound strained, raspy, or shaky.
Impressively, though, this challenge has not stopped Kerry Kennedy, not even a bit. Even in her 60s, she continues to stay super strong and remains an active figure in the public sphere. It seems nothing can faze her from continuing to fight hard for social justice and human rights.
Is Spasmodic Dysphonia Genetic?
Interestingly, spasmodic dysphonia seems to affect the entire Kennedy family. Their grandmother, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, is reported to have suffered from a similar condition, although it wasn’t officially diagnosed. People seem to think this vocal issue carries a genetic component since other siblings like Rory and Courtney Kennedy have also dealt with vocal struggles.
The exact cause of spasmodic dysphonia is not fully known and it’s not clearly understood to be a genetic disorder. It’s merely a neurological condition that affects the brain’s control over the muscles of the larynx (voice box). However, there may be hereditary components in some cases.
Factors, such as injury, illness, or stress, can also play a role in its onset. It is often associated with dystonia, a broader movement disorder that can have genetic factors, which might explain why multiple members of the Kennedy family, including Kerry Kennedy, are affected.
Away from the talk of her voice, Kerry has found herself in the headlines for more than just her advocacy this year. She has not held back from expressing her disappointment with her brother Robert F. Kennedy Jr., especially after he ran as an independent and endorsed Donald Trump. Kerry saw that move as a betrayal of their father’s legacy.
Recently, Kennedy, 69, issued a passionate disavowal, stating:
If my dad were alive today, the real Robert Kennedy would’ve detested almost everything Donald Trump represents. I am outraged and disgusted by my brother’s obscene embrace of Donald Trump. I completely disavow and dissociate myself from Robert Kennedy Jr and his flagrant efforts to desecrate, trample and set fire to my father’s memory.
The political rift in the family couldn’t be more evident as Kerry backed Kamala Harris for the 2024 presidential election.
