French Woman Develops English Accent After Routine Surgery in Rare Medical Mystery
Montval-sur-Loir, France – In an extraordinary medical case that has baffled doctors for over a decade, a 47-year-old French woman has been living with a strong English accent ever since undergoing routine tonsil surgery — despite having no significant knowledge of the English language.
Laetitia, a cashier from Montval-sur-Loir in western France, developed the accent 14 years ago following her tonsillectomy. What began as a post-surgical voice change soon became a permanent and puzzling transformation.
“At first, I wasn’t too worried,” Laetitia told Le Petit Courrier. “My kids had the same surgery and sounded nasal for a while, but it went away. Mine didn’t.”
When the unusual speech pattern persisted for weeks and then months, Laetitia returned to her doctor — only to be met with disbelief. “He asked if I was Anglo-Saxon,” she said. “He couldn’t believe I wasn’t a native English speaker.”
Eventually, Laetitia was diagnosed with Foreign Accent Syndrome (FAS), an exceptionally rare neurological condition most commonly associated with head trauma, stroke, or brain surgery. Experts believe that in her case, the cause may have been reduced blood flow to certain parts of the brain during the operation, affecting the area responsible for speech.
FAS causes individuals to speak in an accent perceived as foreign, though they haven’t necessarily had prolonged exposure to the language or culture. There have been fewer than 100 documented cases worldwide, making it a medical rarity.
Despite numerous consultations with ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists, the origin of the accent remains neurologically elusive. Laetitia says her new voice has even sparked doubt within her own family. “Some still think I’m joking or faking it,” she said. “But this is real — and it’s become part of who I am.”
While she admits to missing her original French voice, Laetitia has learned to accept her condition. “I still want my old voice back,” she says, “but after all these years, I’ve learned to live with it.”
