28 year old woke from nap speaking thick Geordie accent

Verity Went, a 28 year old from Penkridge in Staffordshire, woke from a nap with a thick Geordie accent. She had gone to sleep hoping to ease a migraine. Within minutes of waking, her slurred speech cleared and the accent stayed. Went later traveled to Newcastle to test it, and locals did not notice anything unusual. Doctors diagnosed her with foreign accent syndrome after the October 4, 2023 episode. They linked it to functional neurological disorder, which can disrupt speech without physical brain damage. Went said the sudden change was frightening. “I was terrified,” she said, adding that her doctor was shocked and sent her to hospital to rule out a stroke. Over time, the accent settled in and spread to her inner monologue and dreams. “I love my voice,” Went said. “It’s become who I am.” She is now working with an occupational therapist as her condition stabilizes. For now, the Geordie accent has not faded, and she says she does not want it to.