Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has a neurological disorder called spasmodic dysphonia, which causes the muscles that generate a persons voice to go into periods of spasm. This results in involuntary spasms of the muscles that open or close the vocal folds, causing a voice that presents with breaks and strained/strangled quality. The disorder affects only the voice box and is a specific form of an involuntary movement disorder called dystonia. Kennedy was diagnosed with spasmodic dysphonia around 1996, and the condition has no cure. However, patients can undergo speech therapy or counseling to manage the symptoms. Kennedy has been public about his condition and has explained that he cannot listen to himself on TV and apologizes to everybody for his voice.