Woman’s Voice Changed Overnight — Here’s What Happened
In 2010, 35-year-old Sarah Colwill from Plymouth, UK, suffered a stroke that left her with a surprising and life-altering condition she woke up speaking with what sounded like a Chinese accent. Her original local Devon (Plymothian) accent was gone. Now 50, Sarah has spent the past 15 years coping with a condition known as Foreign Accent Syndrome (FAS) a rare neurological disorder that alters a person’s speech patterns.
What Is Foreign Accent Syndrome?
Foreign Accent Syndrome is an uncommon medical condition that causes someone to suddenly speak with a different accent, usually following a brain injury, such as a stroke or trauma. It doesn’t mean the person is mimicking a foreign language it’s a result of changes in the brain that affect speech rhythm, tone, and pronunciation.
There are only around 100 confirmed cases globally, making FAS a true medical rarity.
Misunderstood and Mistreated
Since her stroke, Sarah has faced constant misunderstanding and discrimination. Some people assumed she was faking her accent, while others accused her of making fun of the Asian community. Even her own family struggled to understand her, with some calling her a “freak” or an “embarrassment.”
She described feeling abandoned by society:
“It’s heartbreaking when your own country turns against you and people tell you to ‘go back where you came from,’ when I’ve never even left the UK.”
The emotional toll has been severe, and Sarah admits she has struggled with thoughts of suicide due to the bullying and isolation.
Facing Accusations and Racism
Sarah’s new way of speaking led some to call her racist or culturally insensitive. She has even been told she was “possessed” and needed an exorcism. However, her close friends from Asian backgrounds, who knew her before the stroke, understood that her accent was not intentional.
One Chinese restaurant owner who had known Sarah for years supported her:
“She didn’t sound Chinese to me just different. I never felt she was mocking anyone.”
Medical Mystery Remains Unsolved
Doctors have never been able to explain exactly what caused Sarah’s stroke. Along with her speech changes, she now also struggles with mobility and ongoing neurological symptoms. Specialists, including a neurologist in Newcastle, have confirmed her condition and helped her understand how her speech was being perceived.
When she first heard a recording of herself after the stroke, she was shocked.
“I didn’t realise how different I sounded until I listened to myself. It didn’t sound like me at all.”
Conclusion
Although people have described her accent as sounding Chinese, others have mistaken it for Australian, Spanish, or Polish. Despite the confusion and ongoing challenges, Sarah hopes that one day her original voice will return.
In the meantime, she wants others to understand that Foreign Accent Syndrome is a real and serious condition. She continues to speak out to raise awareness and promote empathy for those living with rare, misunderstood illnesses.
Source: Inputs from various media Sources
Priya Bairagi
Reviewed by Dr Aarti Nehra (MBBS, MMST)
I’m a pharmacist with a strong background in health sciences. I hold a BSc from Delhi University and a pharmacy degree from PDM University. I write articles and daily health news while interviewing doctors to bring you the latest insights. In my free time, you’ll find me at the gym or lost in a sci-fi novel.
