Spasmodic dysphonia is a neurological disorder that impacts the voice muscles in the voice box (larynx).
In normal conditions, when you speak, the air from the lungs is pushed between the vocal cords, making them vibrate, resulting in a sound (your voice).
However, when someone suffers from spasmodic dysphonia, the muscles in the vocal cords tend to have spasms that interfere with the ability of cords to vibrate and produce a sound (voice).
People with this type of disorder face voice breaks, with a strained, tight-sounding voice that usually happens after a few sentences. In severe cases, understanding the affected person can even become hard.
That said, this post will focus on a few celebrities who have had spasmodic dysphonia.
Here we go!
1. Robert Francis Kennedy Jr
Robert Francis Kennedy Jr, best known by his initials RFK Jr, is an American politician, activist, radio host and an attorney in environmental law.
However, he had spasmodic dysphonia. In July 2008, on Larry King’s Live show, his voice drew attention on social channels. His strained, raspy and stilted voice made clear that Kennedy was still struggling with spasmodic dysphonia.
2. Selma Blair
An American actress, Selma Blair is famous for her roles in Legally Blonde, Cruel Intentions, Hellboy and Sweetest Thing.
In an interview with Good Morning America, she opened up on having multiple sclerosis and, among them, the ill-fated spasmodic dysphonia. She also disclosed her fear of speaking but hopes to encourage others facing the same fate.
3. Celine Dion
It pains me to put my favourite singer on the list, but it’s time to digest the sad reality of what she’s going through. She was diagnosed with stiff person syndrome and has also encountered spasmodic dysphonia.
This impaired her speaking ability, and she had to reschedule all her 2023 shows. All we can do is pray for the talented singer to regain her strength and fight through these life-threatening syndromes.
4. Diane Rehm
Diane is an American journalist known to host the famous podcast ‘On My Mind’. However, in 1998, Diane started having speaking difficulties and was diagnosed with spasmodic dysphonia.
The better part is that Rehm sought treatment and returned to the show. Though the condition is treatable through speech therapy, it has no cure.
5. Chip Hanauer
Chip was the youngest elected person in the Motorsports Hall of Fame and is the third successful unlimited hydroplane in history. He was the National Spasmodic Dysphonia Association (NSDA) spokesman in the past, and there is no doubt why…
He was diagnosed with spasmodic dysphonia.
After retirement as the spokesperson, he worked as a motivational speaker and commentator, but unfortunately, his spasmodic voice got the better of him.
6. Dr Kristin Soda
Spasmodic dysphonia knows no class or speciality, and Dr Kristin Soda of the Clifton Beach Medical and Surgical had to tell her study with spasmodic dysphonia.
She strives to educate her patients. She revealed that her voice had continuous breaks, and she had difficulty pronouncing some words. Even worse, her voice could stop in the middle of some words, which made it hard for anyone to understand her.
7. Linda Thompson
At the young age of 25 and pregnant, the songwriter and performer developed spasmodic dysphonia. She said how hard it was for her. She could go to the studio, and nothing could come out of her mouth, which halted her music in 2002.
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Though there is no known cure for spasmodic dysphonia, patients can undergo counselling and speech therapy. All we can do is encourage those suffering to undergo the proper treatment to gain courage and be the source of motivation to others.
