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Foreign Accent Syndrome in a Patient with Multiple Sclerosis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 February 2016

Jacqueline I Bakker
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
Suzanne Apeldoorn
Affiliation:
Calgary Health Region, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
Luanne M Metz*
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
*
Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Foothills Medical Centre, Multiple Sclerosis Clinic, Main Floor SSB, 1403-29th Street NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 2T9, Canada.
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Abstract

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Background:

Foreign accent syndrome is a speech disorder which leads listeners to perceive the patient as having a foreign accent. It has been recognized previously after stroke, brain injury or unknown causes.

Case report:

A 52-year-old woman with clinically definite relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) presented with episodes of what was perceived as a Dutch accent along with other neurologic symptoms that would resolve simultaneously. She was assessed by a speech therapist both during an episode and after complete recovery. Speech and MRI changes (showing deep white matter lesions in the corpus callosum, left pariental lobe and left frontal lobe) were consistent with previous reports of foreign accent syndrome.

Conclusions:

This patient's episodes of foreign accent are thought to be due to her MS. This is the first case reported of a patient with foreign accent syndrome secondary to MS.

Type
Case Report
Copyright
Copyright © The Canadian Journal of Neurological 2004

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