Has your speech suddenly become foreign? Let's talk about Foreign Accent Syndrome (FAS)!

Imagine waking up in the morning and starting to speak, and you are surprised. It is not the same as yesterday, but today your accent has completely changed. It sounds like someone from a foreign country is speaking. This may sound very strange, perhaps even funny, but it is actually a very rare medical condition. We call this Foreign Accent Syndrome (FAS). This is not like someone who has been abroad for years and has developed a new accent. This is much different, and let's talk about it in more depth.

What exactly is Foreign Accent Syndrome (FAS)?

Simply put, Foreign Accent Syndrome (FAS) is a sudden change in the rhythm, pitch, and pronunciation of a person's speech. It is a motor speech disorder , meaning it is caused by damage to the parts of the brain that control speech. It is neither intentional nor a mental disorder.

This condition was first reported as far back as 1907. Since then, only a very small number of cases have been reported worldwide, just over 100. That is why it is considered a very rare condition.

How does this situation affect the story?

The main thing that happens in FAS is the change in pronunciation. For example, a person who normally speaks Sinhala can suddenly start speaking Sinhala with an English accent like a British person. There are cases reported around the world where a Japanese person starts speaking like a Korean, and a Spanish person starts speaking like a Hungarian.

In addition to this main difference, several other features can be seen:

• Changes in the sounds of words: For example, the word "ball" may sound like "pole." This means that the sound of the first letter of the word has changed.
• Constantly making "a... a..." sounds when speaking: The space between words increases, and the smoothness of speech may be lost.
• Distortion , omission, or substitution of words: Some words cannot be pronounced clearly.
• Difficulty pronouncing long words: You get confused when you try to pronounce a long word with many syllables.

Why is this happening? What are the main reasons?

There is a special part of our brain that controls the rhythm, pitch, and pronunciation of speech. This is called Broca's area in medical terms. If there is damage to this part, as well as to the parts that control the position of the tongue in the mouth when we speak, FAS can occur.

The table below lists some of the main reasons that contribute to this damage.

How does a doctor diagnose this?

If you or someone you know experiences any of these symptoms, it's important to see a doctor right away , as it could be a sign of a more serious underlying condition, such as a stroke. A doctor will take several steps to diagnose this.

1. Physical examination and medical history: First, the doctor will examine you thoroughly, especially looking at how the facial muscles that help you speak are working. He will also ask about your and your family's medical history.

2. Brain scans : To determine if there is any brain damage, one or more of the following scans may be performed.

• CT scan
• MRI scan
• PET scan
• SPECT scan (Single Photo-Emission Computer Tomography scan)

3. Speech and Language Pathologist Test: Next, you will be referred to a Speech-Language Pathologist . He or she will assess your speech patterns, pronunciation, reading, and writing skills through special tests.

What are the treatments for this? Can it be cured?

It is difficult to give a single answer to this question. The outcome depends on the underlying cause.

Mainly used as treatment:

• Speech and language therapy: In this, you work with a speech therapist to retrain your child to move their lips and jaw properly while speaking, and to control their breathing. This may not completely cure the problem, but it can improve the clarity of their speech.
• Mental health counseling: It is a challenge to adjust to this sudden change. Counseling is very important to manage the stress and anxiety that may arise.

Research shows that FAS is more likely to recover if it is caused by a psychological cause (conversion disorder) than if it is caused by a physical injury such as a stroke.

Can FAS be prevented?

There is no direct way to prevent FAS. But we do know that the main causes of it are stroke and severe head injuries . So taking steps to protect yourself from those things is the best thing we can do.

• Reduce your risk of stroke: Maintain a healthy diet, exercise regularly , and control blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol levels.
• Preventing head injuries: Wearing seat belts when driving and traveling, wearing helmets when riding motorcycles, and following safety procedures in the workplace.

If you notice any of these symptoms, don't panic. But don't ignore them either. The best thing to do is to see a qualified doctor as soon as possible and seek advice.

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