A 58-year-old British woman from Highbury, north London, has become the subject of a medical phenomenon after a stroke drastically altered her speech. Althia Bryden, who had lived her entire life in the UK, now speaks with a distinctive Italian accent, leaving doctors puzzled.
On May 4, Althia was found unresponsive in her bed, with a drooping face and partial paralysis on her upper-right side. She was rushed to the hospital, where doctors diagnosed a stroke caused by a carotid web, a rare neck condition that disrupts blood flow to the brain. The stroke left her unable to speak and with significant mobility challenges.
In August, surgeons successfully removed the carotid web. During recovery, something extraordinary happened. “Completely out of the blue, I just started speaking,” Althia told the BBC. Her return to speech astonished medical staff, but they quickly noticed something unusual: Althia’s voice had changed to what sounded like an Italian accent.
Despite having no ties to Italy, she now uses phrases like “mamma mia” and “si” naturally. Her speech therapist attributes this to foreign accent syndrome (FAS), an extremely rare condition in which brain damage alters speech patterns to resemble a foreign accent.
Though grateful to regain her voice, Althia admits the condition has deeply affected her sense of identity. “Even my laugh is not the same… I’m not me,” she shared. She struggles with isolation, as FAS is so rare she has yet to meet others with the condition.
With support from the Stroke Association, Althia is learning to navigate life with FAS. She hopes to raise awareness about this condition while adjusting to her new reality. “This is part of my story, and I shouldn’t be ashamed,” she said.
