Rare brain disorder that took Robert F Kennedy Jr’s iconic voice The sometimes difficult-to-understand speech of Robert F Kennedy Jr is not a stylistic choice but rather the result of a neurological condition known as spasmodic dysphonia.
In a candid disclosure to the Los Angeles Times, the politician admitted he still "can’t stand" the sound of his voice since the diagnosis almost 30 years prior and empathizes with those who hear him: "My voice doesn't really get tired.
Spasmodic dysphonia causes muscle spasms that open and close the vocal cords, leading to a strained, strangled voice or even vocal tremors.
When I was 42 years old, I got struck with a disease, a neurological disease, an injury called spasmodic dysphonia, and it makes my voice tremble.
Reflecting on the impact during last year's presidential campaign, Kennedy shared with CNN: "At that time, I was making a lot of my income doing public speaking, and I could speak to large halls without any amplification.
