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What is foreign accent syndrome? -

Foreign accent syndrome (FAS) happens when people suddenly start speaking with a different accent.

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What is foreign accent syndrome? -

This can also include a native language speaker sounding like someone who speaks the language as a second language.

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Example of FAS -

For example, a US-born person with an American English accent suddenly starts speaking in a British accent. Or that same person speaking with a Spanish accent, as if English was not that person's mother tongue.

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Roots -

FAS was first identified in 1907 by a French neurologist named Pierre Marie. It remains a pretty rare condition, with little over 100 cases reported since then.

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How does FAS affect speech? -

People who suffer from FAS may also mispronounce certain words (e.g. “pall” instead of “ball”). The native language is maintained, but the accent and the way some words are pronounced (or mispronounced) can change considerably.

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How does FAS affect speech? -

Other examples include the difficulty in pronouncing clusters of sounds (e.g. S-T-R in words like “struck”), voicing errors (e.g. "pike" instead of "bike"), and vowel distortions, among others.

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It’s a physiological condition -

This motor speech disorder is psychological in nature, meaning that it’s usually caused by some sort of brain issue or neurological condition.

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Causes: brain trauma -

Causes of FAS vary but mostly include an injury to the brain and central nervous system. Traumatic brain injuries, which can occur, for instance, in a car accident, can trigger the syndrome.

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Causes: stroke -

A stroke will occur when blood flow is cut off to the brain, so this too may affect the brain in a way that triggers FAS.

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Causes: brain lesions -

Other health problems such as brain lesions or aneurysms can also contribute to the development of FAS.

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Causes: tumors -

Brain tumors and other growths, as well as hemorrhages in the brain, can affect how the organ functions, and FAS can develop as a result.

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Causes: Multiple sclerosis (MS) -

MS affects the central nervous system and has also been linked to episodes of FAS.

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Risk factors -

Many FAS patients also have other neurological conditions, including aphasia and apraxia.

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Risk factors -

A 2019 study looking at 112 FAS cases found that most patients were right-handed adult females who spoke English as their native language.

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Major culprit -

Despite the many possible causes, about seven out of 10 FAS cases in the 2019 report were caused by stroke.

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Diagnosis: general -

Blood tests are usually done to rule out any infections and other conditions. A review of the patient’s medical history is done, and any episodes of conditions that may affect speech are thoroughly examined.

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Diagnosis: speech and language -

The condition is pretty rare, but patients are usually directed to a speech-language pathologist. This medical professional will likely perform a number of tests to rule out other speech disorders.

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Diagnosis: scans -

Patients may also see a neurologist. Usually, a number of medical imaging exams are done to look for lesions or damage in the brain. These may include CT and MRI scans.

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Diagnosis: CNS disorders -

A lumbar puncture may also be performed to test for certain central nervous system conditions.

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Diagnosis: psychological -

And, of course, psychological evaluation is a must in these cases. A mental health specialist will need to discard any potential mental causes of FAS.

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Treatment -

Treatment will depend on the cause of FAS. If the case was triggered by a stroke, then blood thinners may be prescribed.

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Treatment -

While some conditions can be addressed, sometimes there is nothing that can be done, other than speech therapy.

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Treatment -

Mental health support is also necessary in many cases, to help cope with the impact FAS has on one’s life.

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Famous cases -

One of the earliest reported cases of FAS is that of a Norwegian woman who developed a German accent after suffering brain damage inflicted by shrapnel during World War II.

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Famous cases -

There are a few documented cases of FAS that show how strange the syndrome really is. One includes that of an Australian woman who started speaking with a French accent after a car crash.

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Famous cases -

Another case dates back to 2018, when an American woman fell asleep with a headache, only to wake up the following day with a mixture of Australian, British, and Irish accents.

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Famous cases -

Bizarrely, in 2011, an American English-speaking woman developed a British and Irish accent right after she woke up from dental surgery.

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How long does FAS last? -

According to the aforementioned 2019 report, the duration people had a foreign accent varied between two months to 18 years (the average duration period was three years).

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Prevention -

There isn’t any way to prevent FAS, as it’s usually a result of trauma or a neurological condition. You shouldn't, however, ignore it if you, or anyone else close to you, develop symptoms.

Sources: (Medical News Today) (WebMD) (Healthline)

See also: Stars who suffer from rare diseases

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