Foreign accent syndromes : the stories people have to tell

252 Pages·2015·0.98 MB·English

by  Miller

Foreign Accent Syndromes
What does it feel like to wake up one day speaking with a foreign accent from
a country one has never visited? Why does someone wake up doing this? This
book seeks to portray the broad and diverse experiences of individuals with
a rare neurological speech disorder called Foreign Accent Syndrome (FAS).
Through a combination of personal testimony and scientific commentary,
the book aims to shed unprecedented light on the understanding of FAS by
elucidating the complex links between how the brain produces speech, how
listeners perceive speech, and the role that accent plays in our perception of
self and others.
The first part of the book provides a comprehensive introduction to FAS
and covers a number of key subject areas, including:
• the definition and phenomenology of FAS
• a history of research on FAS
• the causes and psychosocial consequences of FAS
• a guide to further reading and a glossary of specialised terms.
The material in Part II provides a unique insight into the condition through
personal testimony and accounts from family members. This collection of
28 testimonies from across the world underlines the importance of listening
carefully to patients explaining their cases in their own words. The final section
contains a questionnaire for use by clinicians to support case-history taking.
The authors are two leading global experts on FAS, and this is the first volume
of its kind to provide such a broad and comprehensive examination of this
rare and poorly understood condition. It will be of great interest to practising
clinicians in neurology, psychiatry, psychology, and speech and language
therapy/pathology, as well as students in health disciplines relevant to neuro-
rehabilitation, linguists, and also to families and caregivers.
Jack Ryalls is Professor at the Department of Communication Sciences
and Disorders at the University of Central Florida, USA. In addition to FAS,
his research areas also include aphasia, normal aging, right hemisphere brain
damage, Parkinsonism, Friedreich’s ataxia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Nick Milleris Professor of Motor Speech Disorders at the Institute of Health
and Society, Newcastle University, UK. His teaching and clinical practice
have covered all aspects of motor speech disorders as well as areas of neuro -
psychology, aphasia and rehabilitation in neurological disorders. His main
focus in research has been on speech, voice and swallowing changes in
Parkinson’s and after stroke, with involvement with FAS arising out of the
latter.
Foreign Accent Syndromes
The stories people have to tell
Jack Ryalls and Nick Miller
First published 2015
by Psychology Press
27 Church Road, Hove, East Sussex BN3 2FA
and by Psychology Press
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Psychology Press is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2015 Jack Ryalls and Nick Miller
The right of Jack Ryalls and Nick Miller to be identified as author of this
work has been asserted by them in accordance with sections 77 and 78
of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or
other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying
and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without
permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and
explanation without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Ryalls, John H., 1954–
Foreign accent syndromes: the stories people have to tell/Jack Ryalls
and Nick Miller. – 1 Edition.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Speech disorders. 2. Communicative disorders. 3. Neurolinguistics.
I. Miller, Nick. II. Title.
RC423.R8962 2014
616.85′5–dc23
2013050466
ISBN: 978-1-84872-152-4 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-84872-153-1 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-87089-2 (ebk)
Typeset in Bembo and Gill Sans
by Florence Production Ltd, Stoodleigh, Devon, UK
Contents
Acknowledgements and dedications viii
PART I
Introduction 1
1 Introduction 3
JACK RYALLS
2 All about Foreign Accent Syndrome 9
NICK MILLER
Definitions, phenomenology 9
Historical perspective 16
What causes Foreign Accent Syndrome? 24
Psychosocial consequences of FAS 52
Differential diagnosis 58
Conclusions 65
From the bookshelf 65
Short glossary of some more specialised terms used in the text 69
PART II
Personal testimonies 71
3 Personal testimonies 73
Australia 73
Anonymous: Starting over 73
Canada 85
Ron Kochut: Kelly’s Vancouver Sun Run 2012 85
Costa Rica 88
Jeffrey Barquero Salazar: My mother and her foreign accent
(Mi madre y su acento extranjero) 88
vi Contents
Germany 90
Martina Bodeck: Lena Bodeck FAS 5.1.2011 90
United Kingdom 94
Annabel: FAS, my friend 94
Claire Coleman: ‘Relax, but how do I relax when I am so worried
about my speech?’ 106
Wendy Hasnip: ‘1999 ... I used to become distraught, when the
wiring on the hoover became quite loose ...’ 110
Kath Lockett and family: ‘Robbed of a precious gift, my identity’ 118
June Maldonado: ‘It does affect the family ... a little part of you
goes with your voice change’ 124
Julie Matthias and family: ‘My glass is always half full, but I do
shed the odd tear’ 128
Debie Royston: ‘Life isn’t about waiting for the storm it’s about
learning to dance in the rain’ 132
Kay Russell-Iliffe: ‘Not everything is as it seem, not everything
Is black/white’ 141
USA 147
Teshera Bowser: Dream turns into a nightmare 147
Kenley Byrd: ‘I’m still me’ 150
Gretchen Daniel and family: My story of dealing with FAS 155
Julie Dieschbourg: My FAS journey 162
Joy ‘Curls’ Garcia: My new beginning 164
Nancy Haller: In their perception 168
Kimberly Martens: Thoughts on foreign accent syndrome 175
Karen Bailey Mullinix: My story 176
Alice Murphy: ‘The part of my brain that controlled a minor part
was left in charge of everything and could not do the job thus
everything shut down’ 179
Cindy J. Neely-Langdon: My stroke. My recovery 182
Cindylou Vedin Romberg: Kindred spirits 191
Rose Shuff: Foreign accent syndrome 199
Ellen Spencer:This is not me!! (10 days) 201
Contents vii
Bernadette West: Living out dreams 208
Paula Westberry and family: FAS – my experience 212
Venezuela 221
Olga Boscán: My history of foreign accent syndrome 221
PART III
Additional resources 225
4 The psychosocial impact of FAS questionnaire – prototype 227
JILL TAYLOR, CHLOE HOWE AND NICK MILLER
Index 241
Acknowledgements and
dedications
I would like to acknowledge that part of the idea for this book was inspired
by the popular and compelling course ‘Brain Stories’ given by my colleague
Joe DiNapoli at my home institution, and the many stimulating conversations
that Foreign Accent Syndrome has occasioned. It is especially appropriate for
me to recognise my first exposure to Foreign Accent Syndrome through my
mentor Sheila Blumstein more than thirty years ago (already!) – And, in turn,
the debt to her mentors Harold Goodglass and Roman Jakobson. Nanos
gigantum humeris insidentes. So, I would like to dedicate this book to her.
Jack Ryalls, Orlando, October 2013
With acknowledgement of the boundless insights into communication, its
changes, and the human condition afforded by all those with Foreign Accent
Syndrome whom I have had the privilege to encounter. With thanks for the
inspiration of Jennifer Gurd, who has been a shining light in the field of FAS
and neuropsychology for many decades.
Dedicated to the women in my life, Irene, Jane, Fiona, Catriona, O¯rla.
Nick Miller, Newcastle, October 2013
Part I
Introduction