Page "Foreign accent syndrome" Paragraph 9

A further case of foreign accent syndrome occurred to Linda Walker, a 60-year-old woman from the Newcastle area of UK.

Again following a stroke, her normal Geordie accent was transformed and has been variously described as resembling a Jamaican, as well as a French Canadian, Italian, and a Slovak accent.

Researchers at Newcastle University were reported to be studying the condition in the hope of finding a cure.

Speech therapist Frauke Buerk said: " Foreign accent syndrome is extremely rare.

When I discovered Linda had the syndrome it was an opportunity to make some progress in the treatment of the condition because so little has been made.

" Although Linda has improved it looks likely that she will be left with an accent.

We worked on intonation and the stress she places on different words.

Some people have said the accent is Jamaican and others Eastern European.

As is often the case though, a lot of accents come together.

" She was interviewed by BBC News 24 and appeared on the Richard & Judy show in the UK in July 2006 to speak of her ordeal.