# Does Senator Susan Collins have a speech impediment? If so, what is it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 30, 2012, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-senator-susan-collins-have-a-speech-impediment-if-so-what-is-it/642527 "2012-11-30T00:17:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2012, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-senator-susan-collins-have-a-speech-impediment-if-so-what-is-it/642527/1 "2012-11-30T00:17:31Z")
Per the OP title, I am curious as to Sen. Collins’ strange speech patterns. She speaks very, I don’t know, slowly and rather haltingly; as if such an endeavor poses some difficulty for her. Does she suffer from any known speech impediment? Or any related cognitive issue/disorder that would explain it? Or is it just a quirk? ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2012, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-senator-susan-collins-have-a-speech-impediment-if-so-what-is-it/642527/2 "2012-11-30T01:08:07Z")
She has a form of spasmodic dysphonia. > **[Spasmodic dysphonia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spasmodic_dysphonia)** > > Spasmodic dysphonia, also known as laryngeal dystonia, is a disorder in which the muscles that generate a person's voice go into periods of spasm. This results in breaks or interruptions in the voice, often every few sentences, which can make a person difficult to understand. The person's voice may also sound strained or they may be nearly unable to speak. Onset is often gradual and the condition is lifelong. > The cause is unknown. Risk factors may include family history. Triggers may include an ... ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2012, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-senator-susan-collins-have-a-speech-impediment-if-so-what-is-it/642527/3 "2012-11-30T01:54:40Z")
> [@UncleBill](#): > > She has a form of spasmodic dysphonia. > > [Spasmodic dysphonia - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spasmodic_dysphonia) Ahh! Thank you for the prompt reply. ---
**Author:** ![corporateslp\_yahoo.com](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a183cd/32.png) [@corporateslp\_yahoo.com](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corporateslp_yahoo.com)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-senator-susan-collins-have-a-speech-impediment-if-so-what-is-it/642527/4 "2017-06-29T10:31:36Z")
Yes, Collins appears to have this voice disorder. She also has a lisp that is not part of spasmodic dysphonia. The lisp is caused by the forward posture of her tongue that is frequently anchored behind her lower teeth. That is an orofacial myofunctional disorder. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-senator-susan-collins-have-a-speech-impediment-if-so-what-is-it/642527/5 "2017-06-29T13:45:39Z")
Huh. I almost started a thread about this a few days ago. I’ve noticed this for years and wondered. This is the same problem Diane Rehm, of NPR fame, has. I think hers is more sever than Collins’. ---
**Author:** ![MattLapp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@MattLapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MattLapp)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2017, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-senator-susan-collins-have-a-speech-impediment-if-so-what-is-it/642527/6 "2017-07-01T16:26:57Z")
I understand completely Susan Collins speech, I prefer it to all the fast talkers. If you are having problems maybe you should have your hearing tested. ---
**Author:** ![Mato\_Kuwapi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Mato\_Kuwapi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mato_Kuwapi)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-senator-susan-collins-have-a-speech-impediment-if-so-what-is-it/642527/7 "2017-07-17T19:39:38Z")
Robert Kennedy Jr. has the same condition. It’s more pronounced. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-senator-susan-collins-have-a-speech-impediment-if-so-what-is-it/642527/8 "2017-07-17T21:35:50Z")
> [@MattLapp](#): > > I understand completely Susan Collins speech, I prefer it to all the fast talkers. If you are having problems maybe you should have your hearing tested. no u do ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-senator-susan-collins-have-a-speech-impediment-if-so-what-is-it/642527/9 "2017-07-17T21:53:58Z")
> [@MattLapp](#): > > I understand completely Susan Collins speech, I prefer it to all the fast talkers. If you are having problems maybe you should have your hearing tested. Nobody said that they have problems. It’s an honest question and was answered promptly. You, on the other hand, seem to have nothing to contribute to the discussion. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2017, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-senator-susan-collins-have-a-speech-impediment-if-so-what-is-it/642527/10 "2017-07-17T22:03:19Z")
> [@MattLapp](#): > > I understand completely Susan Collins speech, I prefer it to all the fast talkers. If you are having problems maybe you should have your hearing tested. The weird thing is this person joined _just_ to make this one, stupid post.