After suffering a stroke, a woman woke up speaking with an Italian accent, despite having never visited Italy, surprising everyone.
A woman named Althia Bryden, 58, has experienced a remarkable and strange change in her speech after suffering a stroke.
Living in London, Althia woke up one day speaking with an Italian accent, even though she had never been to Italy.
This unexpected change has left her and those around her surprised and confused.
Althia suffered a stroke leading to unexpected changes.
On May 4, 2024, Althia had a stroke caused by a condition known as a carotid web in her neck.
This condition led to her being unable to speak or feel the right side of her body for three months.
After undergoing surgery in August to remove the blockage, she was able to speak again.
However, when she did, she was shocked to discover her voice had taken on an Italian accent.
Althia described the moment she began speaking in this new accent.
She recalled, “Completely out of the blue, I just started speaking.”
The nurse attending her was equally astonished.
Althia did not recognize her own voice and felt as if someone else was speaking.
This sudden change led to a lot of questions from her medical team, who were surprised by her accent.
“Firstly, I couldn’t believe it was me talking, but I also didn’t recognize the sound of my voice.
The nurse rushed to get colleagues round to my bed. No one could believe I was talking after so long.
But the more I spoke, the more confused we all became.”
Althia’s accent change is due to Foreign Accent Syndrome.
Althia’s new way of speaking is part of a rare condition called Foreign Accent Syndrome (FAS).
This condition can occur after a stroke or other brain injury, causing someone to speak in a different accent.
Many medical professionals have never encountered this syndrome in their careers, making Althia’s case quite unusual.
After speaking with a speech therapist, it became clear to Althia that her situation was rare.
Previously sounding British, she now often used Italian phrases like “mamma mia” and “bambino” after the stroke.
This change has made her feel like she has lost a part of her identity.
Althia feels confused and sad about her new identity.
The woman has expressed feelings of confusion and sadness about her new accent.
She mentioned, “I feel like a clown with an upside-down smile that people are watching perform.”
“I don’t know who I am anymore,” she admitted.
Althia struggles with communication due to her aphasia.
Aphasia affects Althia’s ability to communicate, along with the accent change.
This has made it difficult for her to express herself, adding to her feelings of fear and confusion.
She explained how her brain had difficulty understanding language, making daily conversations hard.
Althia is currently waiting for a formal diagnosis regarding her accent.
She hopes that by sharing her story, others will become more aware of Foreign Accent Syndrome and the impact it can have on individuals.