Migraine gives woman foreign accent

Apr 20 2010 By Carla Callaghan

A DEVON woman has been left speaking in what sounds like a chinese accent after suffering from severe migraines.

Sarah Colwill (35) noticed the change after a migraine attack and realised that her voice sounded different. It is believed that Mrs Colwill is suffering from an extremely rare condition known as Foreign Accent Syndrome (FAS).

Speaking to Sky News, Mrs Colwill said: "I knew I sounded different but I didn't know how much and people said I sounded a bit Chinese.

"Then I had another attack and when the ambulance crew arrived they said I definitely sounded Chinese."

It is thought he rare disorder is caused by strokes and brain injuries, and causes sufferers to lose the ability to talk in their native accent.

There have been an estimated 60 recorded cases of FAS since it was first identified in the 1940s.

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