Grandmother Wakes from Stroke Speaking Fluent Italian!

Quick Smiles:

• Althia Bryden wakes up from a stroke speaking with an Italian accent, despite never visiting Italy.
• Diagnosed with Foreign Accent Syndrome, her speech surprises both herself and medical professionals.
• Althia finds solace in connecting with other stroke survivors, though she longs for her original voice.

An unexpected twist in Althia Bryden’s life unfolded when she woke up from a stroke with an Italian accent and newfound language skills. Despite never having set foot in Italy, this 58-year-old grandmother from North London found herself speaking Italian words without realizing it.

Her journey began when her husband discovered her unresponsive and immediately called for medical help. Following a nine-day hospital stay, doctors diagnosed a stroke caused by a carotid web, a condition affecting blood flow to the brain.

After undergoing surgery, Althia spent three months unable to speak. To her surprise, when she finally regained her voice, it was unrecognizable.

“After my carotid web surgery, a nurse came to my hospital bed to do a routine check, and completely out of the blue, I just started speaking,” she recounted. “Firstly, I couldn’t believe it was me talking, but I also didn’t recognize the sound of my voice.”

Her new accent and ability to speak Italian puzzled both Althia and her medical team.

“The more I spoke, the more confused we all became,” she explained. “It was clear that I did have a strong Italian accent, and I had no control over the sound I was making when talking.”

Diagnosed with Foreign Accent Syndrome, Althia’s case is a rare phenomenon.

Doctors and nurses were intrigued by her condition, as many had never encountered it in their careers. “I’m so grateful to be alive after my stroke, and to be able to communicate after living with no speech for three months, but living with FAS is really hard,” Althia shared.

Despite her challenges, Althia remains hopeful for the return of her original voice.

“I wake up most mornings hoping that my old voice will be back again. I don’t feel like me with this foreign accent,” she expressed.

Support from stroke support groups and fellow survivors has been invaluable to her.

“It’s so helpful to share our lived experiences. As much as every stroke is different, there is always something that two stroke survivors can bond over,” she said.

Yet, she still hopes to meet someone with a similar experience of Foreign Accent Syndrome, as she dreams of saying ‘Arrivederci’ to her unexpected Italian accent.

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