Foreign Accent Syndromes

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.

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