foreign accent syndrome
Rare neurological condition where patients develop what sounds like a foreign accent following brain injury, despite no change in native language fluency.
Full Definition
Foreign accent syndrome is an extremely rare motor speech disorder that typically follows damage to brain areas controlling speech articulation, most commonly the left hemisphere premotor and motor cortices. Patients develop alterations in speech rhythm, intonation, and phonetic production that listeners perceive as a foreign accent, though the patients retain their native language vocabulary and grammar. The 'accent' is not a true foreign accent but rather reflects systematic changes in speech timing and sound production. The condition can cause significant psychological distress and social difficulties. Careful documentation should distinguish this from other speech disorders and note that the accent quality may vary depending on the listener's linguistic background.
Usage
Usage note: Three words, not hyphenated. Emphasize that it's not a true foreign accent but altered speech patterns.
In Context
- "The patient developed foreign accent syndrome following the left frontal stroke, speaking with what sounded like a Scandinavian accent." — Speech pathology evaluation
- "Foreign accent syndrome resolved partially over six months with intensive speech therapy targeting prosodic features." — Rehabilitation outcome