Being in the public eye can be unforgiving, especially if you don’t make any public appearances for years and then new footage of you speaking or unflattering photographs begin circulating on the internet. “Oh my god! Look at how much weight they gained!” Or “so and so” is bald now?!”
Seeing someone after years can come as a shock because your image of that person is from way, way back, which could be why so many people are wondering what happened to Bill Clinton’s voice.
What happened with Bill Clinton’s voice?
While his manner of speaking has often been the subject of jest in many SNL skits and stand-up comedy routines, people noticed that it’s grown hoarser over the years, notably after he underwent heart surgery. According to Humana, who spoke with laryngologist Dr. Jamie Koufman, this change in Clinton’s voice could possibly be attributed to surgery for a variety of reasons.
“Bill Clinton may have either had vocal cord damage during surgery where you’d see that voice change, or acid reflux could also cause it,” Dr. Koufman said.
Unfortunately, vocal cord damage is sometimes collateral damage for undergoing heart surgery due to the nature of our physiology. “The left vocal cord is clustered near the chest so in any type of heart or lung surgery the nerve in the left vocal cord can be inflamed, tweaked or damaged, and will leave you with a breathy sounding voice,” Dr. Koufman said.
Bill Clinton used to be an incredible orator. Maybe it’s a bad mic, but wow his voice is shot.
— I am not Calvin (@movinmeat) August 19, 2020
While the alteration in one’s voice after a surgery is mostly temporary, the damage can sometimes be permanent depending on the severity of the damage that was incurred on the vocal cord during surgery.
What’s more is that hoarseness just isn’t a side effect of acid reflux or of going under the knife. It could also be a sign of greater health problems.
“First, throat hoarseness that lasts for longer than a few weeks needs to be checked out by an ear, nose and throat specialist,” according to Koufman, who suggests that if your voice is becoming progressively softer, there could be issues with your nerves that connect to your vocal cords.
This hoarseness could also point to multiple sclerosis, thyroid and throat cancer, lyme disease, or even brain tumors. So, a changing voice isn’t something that should be ignored for long or taken lightly. A raspy voice could also be a result of vocal cord polyp which is similar to a “blister” on your foot, or a nodule, which is more of a callous. Fascinating dinner conversation, I know.
When did Bill Clinton’s voice get so raspy?
— Ed MD (@notdred) August 19, 2020
Source : https://www.distractify.com/p/what-happened-to-bill-clintons-voice