Functional Foreign Accent Syndrome in suspected Conversion Disorder: A case study

We provide a case analysis for 28-year-old, native Dutch-speaking lady who developed Foreign Accent Syndrome (FAS), few weeks after falling down the staircase. In addition to FAS, which gave impression she spoke with German accent, German(-like) words and structures occurred. Speech symptoms were aggravated by increased stress, fatigue or emotional pressure, this triggered jargon speech. It was hypothesized her FAS on functional basis. In-depth analyses of patient’s medical background, neuropsychological neurolinguistic tests psychodiagnostic exams done. The patient participated in an fMRI experiment. syllable repetition paradigm, motor speech activations compared those healthy individuals, see whether they altered, would be expected neurological etiology. Medical history disclosed prior traumatic experiences sought help, but no incidents. Repeated showed deficits recent memory executive functioning. demonstrated great difficulties picture naming. Clinically, language switching mixing as well recurring found. Formal did not identify clear disorder, interviews consistent DSM-5 conversion disorder. study that network corresponded found participants. clinical characteristics, outcome experiment, together findings strongly indicative underlying etiology speech, presenting