Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s voice has been described as raspy and strained, and he has been public about being diagnosed with spasmodic dysphonia, a rare neurological disorder that affects the voice box. This condition causes voice breaks during speaking and can make the voice sound tight, strained, or breathy. There is no cure for the condition, but patients can undergo speech therapy or counseling. Kennedy has stated that his voice began to change in the late 1990s and that he had an injury that caused the neurological disorder. He has also mentioned that he has undergone surgery and alternative therapies that have made his voice more reliable and stronger.