title: Functional foreign accent syndrome.
abstract: Foreign accent syndrome (FAS) is a rare disorder where the affected person speaks in an accent that the listener perceives as foreign. Although most cases have left hemisphere lesions, some may be functional. We describe a case of functional FAS and present a video of her speech. We identify characteristics that help to distinguish functional from structural cases. These include preceding motor disturbances causing the maladaptive speech response, inconsistencies in accent production, the adoption of unusual mannerisms in speech and the speech disturbances being transient and reversible. We conclude that FAS is a complex disorder encompassing both functional and structural causes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Omay
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Lea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ludwig
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Davenport
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stone
mesh_terms: D001184:Articulation Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008875:Middle Aged; D013060:Speech; D013577:Syndrome
keywords: Conversion DIsorder; Foreign Accent Syndrome; Functional Neurological Disorder; Psychogenic