Fla. Woman Has Stroke, Gets British Accent
Roberts Diagnosed With Extremely Rare 'Foreign-Accent Syndrome'
POSTED: 5:33 p.m. EST November 19, 2003
UPDATED: 6:39 a.m. EST November 20, 2003
ORLANDO, Fla. -- A University of Central Florida speech expert has diagnosed an extremely rare disorder in a Sarasota, Fla., woman that caused her to speak with a British accent after she suffered a stroke.
The case of foreign-accent syndrome is one of fewer than 20 reported worldwide since 1919, according to Jack Ryalls, professor of communicative disorders at UCF.
Judi Roberts was doing a crossword puzzle four years ago when her right hand went numb. She suffered a stroke, which left her paralyzed on her right side and unable to talk. But when her speech finally returned, her deep northern accent was gone.
Roberts now speaks with a higher-pitched British accent.
Ryalls has conducted a series of tests on Roberts and says the syndrome is the only explanation.
Roberts say she has been accused of faking the accent. She became a recluse and even contemplated moving to England until she read about the disorder last spring and contacted experts.
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