Foreign Accent Syndromes: The stories people have to tell

What does it feel like to wake up one day speaking with a foreign accent from a country one has never visited?

Why does someone wake up doing this?

This book seeks to portray the broad and diverse experiences of individuals with a rare neurological speech disorder called Foreign Accent Syndrome (FAS). Through a combination of personal testimony and scientific commentary, the book aims to shed unprecedented light on the understanding of FAS by elucidating the complex links between how the brain produces speech, how listeners perceive speech and the role that accent plays in our perception of self and others.

The first part of the book provides a comprehensive introduction to FAS and covers a number of key subject areas, including:

• The definition and phenomenology of FAS

• A history of research on FAS

• The causes and psychosocial consequences of FAS

• A guide to further reading and a glossary of specialized terms.

The chapters in part two provide a unique insight into the condition through personal testimony and accounts from family members. This collection of 28 testimonies from across the world underlines the importance of listening carefully to patients explain their cases, and in their own words. The final section contains a questionnaire for use by clinicians to support case history taking.

The authors are two leading global experts on FAS, and this is the first volume of its kind to provide such a broad and comprehensive examination of this rare and poorly understood condition. It will be of great interest to practising clinicians in neurology, psychiatry, psychology and speech and language therapy/pathology, as well as students in health disciplines relevant to neurorehabilitation, linguists and also to families and caregivers.

Part One – Introduction Introduction, Jack Ryalls All about Foreign Accent Syndrome, Nick Miller: (1) Definitions, Phenomenology (2) Historical Perspective (3) What causes FAS? (4) Psychosocial consequences of FAS (5) Differential Diagnosis (6) From the bookshelf (7) Glossary Part Two – Personal Testimonies Introduction Anonymous: Starting Over Kelly Kochut: Kelly’s Vancouver Sun Run 2012 & Kelly’s Husband Jeffry Barquero Salazar: My Mother and her Foreign-Accented-Speech: Mi Madre y su acento extranjero Martine Bodeck: Lena Bodeck FAS 5.1.2011 Annabel: FAS, my Friend Claire Coleman: Relax, but how do I relax when I am so worried about my speech? Wendy Hasnip: 1999…I used to become distraught, when the wiring on the hoover became quite loose… Kath Lockett and family: Robbed of a precious gift, my identity June M: It does affect the family…a little part of you goes with your voice change Julie Matthias and family: My glass is always half full, but I do shed the odd tear Debie Royston: Life isn’t about waiting for the storm it’s about learning to dance in the rain Kay Russell: Not everything is as it seem, not everything Is black/white Teshera Bowser: Dream turns into a Nightmare Kenely Bryd: I’m Still Me Gretchen Daniel and family: My Story of Dealing with FAS Julie Dieschbourg: My FAS Journey Curls (Joy) Garcia: My New Beginning Nancy Haller: In Their Perception Kimberly Martens: Thoughts on Foreign Accent Syndrome Karen Bailey Mullinex: My Story Alice Murphy: The part of my brain that controlled a minor part was left in charge of everything and could not do the job thus everything shut down Cindy J. Neely-Langdon: My Stroke. My Recovery CindyLou Verdin Romberg: Kindred Spirits Rose Shuff: Foreign Accent Syndrome Bernadette West: Living and Dreams Paula Westberry and family: FAS—My Experience & Part Two Olga Boscan: My Story with Foreign Accent Syndrome (translated from the original Spanish by Caroline Krohne M. A. & edited by Astrid Soriano, B.A.) Part Three – Additional Resources The psychosocial impact of FAS questionnaire

‘Accent is central to identity, so when accent is altered by brain damage or other causes, the effect on the individual is profound. Foreign Accent Syndromes offers a unique account of the human experience in such cases. Ryalls and Miller provide a thoughtful introduction and scientific overview of Foreign Accent Syndrome (FAS), then step back to let people with FAS tell their stories. This is essential reading for people whose lives have been changed by FAS, for health professionals, researchers, and anyone who has ever been intrigued by this unusual disorder.’ – Karen Croot, School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Australia

‘Foreign Accent Syndromes is written in an engaging, highly readable style and will be of interest not only to the scientist and the clinician but also to the non-scientist who wants to learn about this interesting and unique syndrome.’ – Sheila E. Blumstein, Department of Cognitive, Linguistic and Psychological Sciences, Brown University, USA

'From the perspective of a hospital based research cognitive neuropsychologist with over 20 years FAS experience, I find this little gem of a book to be stimulating, accurate and heart-rending. Interesting in its own unique right, it will also provide insights for people with FAS and their families, clinicians, and scientist-researchers. No audience is excluded. Students and the lay-reader will be amongst its fans. The professional accuracy of Ryalls and Miller combines effortlessly with the descriptive biographical accounts, all of which colour the unfolding natural history of foreign accent syndrome. This is a solid-gold contribution to the literature on FAS, and I have no hesitation in recommending it. It is hugely accessible to a lay readership and will stimulate and inform health professionals as well.' – Jennifer Gurd, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford

'Foreign Accent Syndromes is the first comprehensive and yet accessible guide to this intriguing phenomenon. With the unique addition of personal testimonies, which allows patients to speak in their own voices, this book is a must for all researchers and clinicians interested in this fascinating and confounding disorder.' – Yves Joanette, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montréal, Canada

‘Between the covers of this book we find a spirited and knowledgeable professional account of FAS, and a sensitive portrayal of the inner perspectives of those who experience it.’ – Wolfram Ziegler, Institute of Phonetics and Speech Processing, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany

'Reading this as someone with an interest but little prior knowledge in the area, I found this a rounded introduction to research and experiences of FAS. Diagnosed individuals and affected families, as well as psychologists and speech and language workers will gain much from the tales and concise research described.' - Emma Norris, The Psychologist

‘Accent is central to identity, so when accent is altered by brain damage or other causes, the effect on the individual is profound. Foreign Accent Syndromes offers a unique account of the human experience in such cases. Ryalls and Miller provide a thoughtful introduction and scientific overview of Foreign Accent Syndrome (FAS), then step back to let people with FAS tell their stories. This is essential reading for people whose lives have been changed by FAS, for health professionals, researchers, and anyone who has ever been intrigued by this unusual disorder.’ – Karen Croot, School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Australia

‘Foreign Accent Syndromes is written in an engaging, highly readable style and will be of interest not only to the scientist and the clinician but also to the non-scientist who wants to learn about this interesting and unique syndrome.’ – Sheila E. Blumstein, Department of Cognitive, Linguistic and Psychological Sciences, Brown University, USA

'From the perspective of a hospital based research cognitive neuropsychologist with over 20 years FAS experience, I find this little gem of a book to be stimulating, accurate and heart-rending. Interesting in its own unique right, it will also provide insights for people with FAS and their families, clinicians, and scientist-researchers. No audience is excluded. Students and the lay-reader will be amongst its fans. The professional accuracy of Ryalls and Miller combines effortlessly with the descriptive biographical accounts, all of which colour the unfolding natural history of foreign accent syndrome. This is a solid-gold contribution to the literature on FAS, and I have no hesitation in recommending it. It is hugely accessible to a lay readership and will stimulate and inform health professionals as well.' – Jennifer Gurd, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford

'Foreign Accent Syndromes is the first comprehensive and yet accessible guide to this intriguing phenomenon. With the unique addition of personal testimonies, which allows patients to speak in their own voices, this book is a must for all researchers and clinicians interested in this fascinating and confounding disorder.' – Yves Joanette, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montréal, Canada

‘Between the covers of this book we find a spirited and knowledgeable professional account of FAS, and a sensitive portrayal of the inner perspectives of those who experience it.’ – Wolfram Ziegler, Institute of Phonetics and Speech Processing, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany

'Reading this as someone with an interest but little prior knowledge in the area, I found this a rounded introduction to research and experiences of FAS. Diagnosed individuals and affected families, as well as psychologists and speech and language workers will gain much from the tales and concise research described.' - Emma Norris, The Psychologist