Verity Went, a 27-year-old woman from Staffordshire, England, woke up one day to discover that her accent had completely changed. She expressed her shock, stating, “I had never learned that dialect, nor have I ever been to that place,” yet suddenly found herself speaking in a Geordie accent, a dialect specific to Newcastle. This change in speech not only involved her accent but also affected her vocabulary; for example, she transitioned from calling her mother “mum” to referring to her as “mam.”
In an interview with the Mirror, Went explained that she had previously suffered from severe migraines, which often left her feeling faint, experiencing nausea, and even having seizures. Despite some people believing she was merely pretending, Went insisted that her accent change was sudden and unexpected. “I never imagined this could happen to me,” she remarked.
In 2022, Went was diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), where issues in the nervous system lead to a range of unexplained medical symptoms. Additionally, she was diagnosed with the rare Foreign Accent Syndrome, a condition where individuals may suddenly start speaking with an accent that is not their own, typically following a head injury, stroke, or other brain trauma.
Since her diagnosis, Went has been sharing her experiences on social media, aiming to raise awareness about this condition. Many followers expressed their astonishment, with some believing she was originally from Newcastle due to her new accent.
Now, over six months post-diagnosis, Went shared that she has begun to adapt to her new reality. However, the illness still leaves her fatigued and prone to seizure episodes, so she continues to seek treatment actively.
