FOREIGN ACCENT SYNDROME: A LANGUAGE CHANGING DISORDER Authors: Siri U , NIKHILA K1, BHAVANI D1, HIMABINDU K, NARENDER B*
ABSTRACT
Foreign accent syndrome (FAS) is a speech disorder of abrupt onset in which the affected person’s
spoken output is altered such that it is perceived to have the quality of a foreign accent. It is a rare
phenomenon. More than 100 cases with the syndrome have been published, the majority of which
were associated with observed insults of speech centre. Some other cases have been described
without identifiable organic brain injury, especially in patients with psychiatric illness. FAS is most
often caused by damage to the brain caused by a stroke or traumatic brain injury. This disorder is
also known as Pseudo-Accent and it was first seen in 1940. Foreign accent syndrome is diagnosed
more in females as compared to males. This disorder is mainly seen in age range of about 25-49
years. Foreign accent syndrome is a medical condition in which patients develop speech patterns
that are perceived as a foreign accent that is different from their native accent. It may also affect
the psychological behaviour of patient. The main mechanism of this disease is still not known.
This topic is discussed in the context of a brief review of the syndrome. The diagnosis of FAS is
blood tests, to test for infections and some illnesses. Many causes of foreign accent syndrome are
not curable, though medication can help manage the symptoms. Here we know about thesymptoms, diagnosis, causes, treatment and mental health condition of the foreign accent
syndrome. This review may improve the diagnosis of the syndrome in clinical practice and
highlights the importance of recognizing psychogenic FAS as an independent taxonomic entity.
Keywords: Foreign accent syndrome, neurological disorder, psychiatric illness, speech disorder Publication date: 01/08/2025 https://ijbpas.com/pdf/2025/August/MS_IJBPAS_2025_9272.pdfDownload PDFhttps://doi.org/10.31032/IJBPAS/2025/14.8.9272