A 58-year-old grandmother from London has started speaking with an Italian accent, baffling her family after a stroke altered her speech patterns. Althia Bryden says her recovery has left her feeling like “someone is impersonating me,” as her accent is unrecognizable to her.
Following the stroke in May, Bryden was left unable to move the right side of her body or speak. As her speech returned during recovery, her family was shocked to hear her voice sounding distinctly Italian, including the use of words like “si” and “bambino.”
Doctors believe Bryden’s condition is the result of foreign accent syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that alters speech processing following traumatic brain injuries. The condition has affected fewer than 100 cases worldwide, making it an unusual diagnosis.
Bryden’s husband Winston and their son recall being dumbfounded by the change. While they try to find moments of humor, Bryden admits the shift has been emotionally challenging, altering her identity and social interactions.
Her stroke was caused by a blockage in her carotid artery, and she required months of rehabilitation, along with surgery in July, to regain her strength. Doctors continue to assess the lasting effects of the stroke, including her altered speech.
