Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has spasmodic dysphonia, a voice disorder caused by a malfunction in the brain. Here’s what to know.

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

Kennedy Jr., known to the world as RFK Jr. for short, suffers from "spasmodic dysphonia, a specific form of an involuntary movement disorder called dystonia that affects only the voice box," ABC News has reported.

Spasmodic dysphonia impacts about 50,000 people in North America. Here's what to know about what causes spasmodic dysphonia and how it's treated.

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

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s raspy voice was on full display when his high-stakes confirmation hearing got underway Wednesday — as lawmakers grilled President Trump’s controversial pick to

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has struggled for decades with a rare disorder affecting his speech, causing his voice to sound strained and raspy when he speaks.

Spasmodic dysphonia (SD), sometimes referred to as laryngeal dystonia, is a rare neurological condition impacting the voice and speech that impacts approximately 50,000 people in North America. For people with SD, muscles spasms in the larynx (also known as the voice box) cause the voice to sound tight, strangled or strained.

Spasmodic dysphonia is considered a task-specific type of dystonia, which means it affects regular speech. It’s less likely to impact other types of vocal activities, Frankford says, including laughing, crying, whispering, and sometimes even singing.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will testify before the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday, January 29, as he seeks confirmation as the nation's health secretary. Ahead of his confirmation hearing, articles about the sound of his voice and his spasmodic dysphonia have been in the news. This is what you need to know about the condition.

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.