Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s voice has been described as raspy, strained, and breathy. He has been diagnosed with a rare neurological voice disorder called spasmodic dysphonia. This disorder causes involuntary spasms in the muscles of the voice box, also known as the larynx, which can strain an individuals ability to speak and cause their voice to sound hoarse or breathy. There is no cure for the condition, but patients can benefit from voice therapy to re-coordinate the speech subsystems. In severe cases, surgery may be an option, but treatment plans are different for each patient. Kennedys voice began to change in the late 1990s, and he has been public about his diagnosis of spasmodic dysphonia. Despite the challenges posed by his condition, Kennedy has stated that his voice is getting stronger.