Migraine Mystery: Waking with a New Accent

A woman named Verity Went experienced a sudden and dramatic change in her voice after taking a nap to alleviate a migraine. Upon waking, she found her speech slurred, which then resolved into a distinct Geordie accent. This bizarre transformation, which occurred on October 4, 2023, led to a diagnosis of foreign accent syndrome, a rare condition. Verity had a prior diagnosis of functional neurological disorder (FND), which likely contributed to her symptoms.

Initially, Verity was deeply frightened by the loss of her original voice, fearing she had lost her identity. She sought immediate medical attention, with doctors recognizing the connection to her FND. Despite her initial distress, Verity's accent has remained consistent. She has since traveled to Newcastle, where locals did not notice her accent difference, confirming its authenticity.

Over time, Verity has grown to accept and even love her new voice, feeling it is more representative of her true self. She now experiences her inner monologue and dreams in the Geordie accent, leading her to believe the change is permanent. Verity is currently working with an occupational therapist to manage her FND, and her previous seizures have ceased.