Kennedy's condition is called spasmodic dysphonia, which is a neurologic disorder that can affect the voice and speech by causing the muscles that generate a person’s voice to go into periods of spasm, according to Penn Medicine. It is a lifelong condition, but can be improved with treatment in some cases, according to Penn Medicine.

American politician Robert F. Kennedy Jr. once had a very strong voice. But last month when he appeared during the Senate confirmation hearing for his nomination to the US Secretary of Health and Human Services,

RFK Jr.'s raspy voice is due to spasmodic dysphonia. The neurological disorder produces muscle spasms in the voice box.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. started developing symptoms of the condition in 1996. Spasmodic dysphonia is a neurological condition that causes certain muscles in the “voice box,” or larynx, to spasm, often making the voice sound raspy, strained or breathy.

Spasmodic dysphonia is a rare neurological disorder that causes involuntary spasms in the vocal cords, making speech strained, breathy, or hoarse.

Spasmodic dysphonia is a rare neurological disorder that causes a strained voice. RFK Jr. says he has had the disorder for decades and treats it with Botox injections, a common treatment.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. explains why his voice sounds raspy and strained, causing difficulty when he speaks. Here's more about spasmodic dyshphonia

One of the hottest topics in the coverage of his confirmation hearing was RFK Jr.'s unusually gruff speaking voice. But the raspy sound to his voice is not the result of an infection or respiratory condition;

Ever wondered why Robert Kennedy Jr.'s voice sounds unusual? He was diagnosed with a neurological disorder that impacts vocal cords. What to know.