In a surprising turn of events, a grandmother in Telangana’s Karimnagar district began speaking English with a flawless American accent, leaving her family and neighbors amazed. Doctors suspect a rare condition called Foreign Accent Syndrome, typically triggered by brain injuries or strokes, may explain her sudden linguistic transformation.
Imagine waking up one day speaking with an accent you’ve never learned, sounding completely unfamiliar to yourself and others. Foreign Accent Syndrome is a rare neurological condition where a person suddenly adopts an accent they’ve never been exposed.
The family of 70-year-old Radhamma was baffled when she suddenly started speaking in an American accent one day. The family was surprised as Radhamma never went to school nor had relatives or friends from the USA. She had not even traveled to America.
Her son took her to a psychiatrist who did not find any behavioural issue and suggested a neurologist’s opinion. Dr Sudhir Kumar, renowned neurologist from Apollo Hospitals in Hyderabad, noticed some of the symptoms of this rare syndrome on clinical examination.
“Her speech slurred and it was slow in nature. She had difficulty pronouncing words. It felt like she was speaking Telugu in an American accent. While her neurological examination was normal, an MRI of the brain showed a small acute infarct in left frontal area which is the speech area of the brain. There was a stroke in speech area of the brain causing this syndrome known as ‘foreign accent syndrome’ (FAS),” explained Dr Sudhir.
What is Foreign Accent Syndrome?
Imagine waking up one morning and speaking with an accent you’ve never learned, sounding entirely foreign to yourself and everyone around you. Foreign Accent Syndrome is a rare neurological condition where a person suddenly starts speaking with a foreign accent that is not their native one, despite having no prior exposure to that accent.
This change, according to doctors, is typically involuntary and “is often associated with underlying neurological, and psychological causes.”
For those affected by Foreign Accent Syndrome (FAS), this surreal transformation isn’t a dream but a reality that can dramatically alter how they communicate and connect with the world. Dr Sudhir explains, “FAS is a rare acquired speech disorder wherein an individual’s spoken accent is perceived as ‘foreign.’”
Most commonly triggered by a stroke, FAS manifests abruptly, making familiar voices sound foreign to those who have lived with them all their lives.
The condition has puzzled researchers due to its variety of causes. While stroke remains the most frequent catalyst, head trauma due to injury, brain tumours, multiple sclerosis, degenerative brain diseases, learning disorders, and even psychological conditions have all been linked to FAS.
In many patients, the disorder traces back to lesions in the left frontal lobe, the brain region primarily responsible for speech.
It was first described more than 100 years ago (in 1907) by French neurologist Pierre Marie. Interestingly, in another case as reported in the reputed BMJ journal of case reports, a man in his 50s with advanced prostate cancer developed an uncontrollable Irish accent, despite no Irish background.
He had no brain or psychiatric issues initially, but tests later showed his cancer had transformed into an aggressive type called neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC).
This cancer spread to his brain and likely caused neurological complications, including FAS. Unfortunately, despite treatment, his condition worsened, and he passed away due to complications. Doctors believe his accent change was linked to a paraneoplastic neurological disorder, where cancer indirectly affects the nervous system. This case is the first of its kind.
How was FAS patient treated?
For individuals experiencing FAS, there is currently no definitive cure. Speech therapy offers some potential benefits, but, as Dr Sudhir notes, “Recovery may occur over time; however, in some people, the speech disorder may be permanent.”
Dr Sudhir explained that she was started on anti-platelet agents and BP-lowering drugs. Speech therapy was advised. “Her accent slowly improved and it became normal at six months follow up,” he said.
Do not label such people as ‘possessed’ ?
Changes in speech rhythm, pronunciation, they may sound slower, faster or altered pitch and stress, often mistaken for mimicry or intentional behaviour. Dr Sudhir says if anyone sees a sudden change in accent then it could be a neurological problem and it is caused by damage to speech problem and mostly due to damage to the speech area of the brain, most commonly by stroke. A proper evaluation and MRI can confirm the diagnosis.
Doctors warn that in rural areas there are cases found with this syndrome and unfortunately are perceived as possessed by an evil spirit. “These people are taken to some ‘tantriks’ or swamijis instead of a doctor. People must be aware of such conditions, despite being rare. Awareness on FAS is very low in many places but doctors and healthcare workers must be aware of this condition,” added a senior doctor. #hydkhabar
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