Verity Went, 29, who was born and raised in Staffordshire, went to bed with a headache and woke up with a Geordie accent three years ago. She says she now loves her new voice and does not want her old one back.
Went had been trying to sleep off a migraine when she awoke to a thick, distinctive Geordie accent, sounding unrecognisable to friends and family. She was diagnosed with a rare condition called foreign accent syndrome, which is related to a condition she had recently been diagnosed with – functional neurological disorder (FND). FND occurs when there is a problem with how the brain sends and receives signals to the body.
Embracing the new voice
Three years on, Went no longer wishes for her old voice back and has fully embraced her north-east accent, which even features in her dreams. “I feel like this is my voice now,” said the barber and content creator.
“I’m so used to it, and if it changed back to my original voice, it would be just as hard to adapt back. I was told [by doctors] that foreign accent syndrome is normally long-term, if not permanent, and I’m hoping it doesn’t change again.
“The mental strain is so hard, and I wouldn’t want to go through it again. I believe it’s permanent because of the fact it’s changed [to the new accent] in my inner monologue as well, and in my dreams it has changed.
“I’ve accepted what has happened and it has made me the person I am today – more open, understanding and appreciative of changes to life, instead of being scared of change.”
The day it happened
Went woke up on October 4, 2023, with her new accent. She said: “After a couple of hours I woke up and my speech was slurred, which I’m occasionally used to, but after five minutes it came back – and was Geordie.
“I was terrified. I went to the doctor straight away, and since they already knew about my FND, they kind of knew it was something to do with that rather than a stroke.
“The doctor was so shocked, and when I asked what to do, she said she’d heard about it before but never seen it, and to go to the hospital. Even though I like it now and I’m used to it, at first I was so upset as I just felt I had completely lost myself and didn’t know who I was anymore.”
Life three years on
Reflecting back on that time three years later, life looks very different for Went now. She said: “Now that some time has passed, I love my voice. It’s become who I am.
“My friends and family are so used to it now, and everyone says they believe this is the real me, and that I suit it more than my original accent. I can’t believe it’s been three years. When something so rare and, I suppose, unbelievable actually happens to you, time stands still.
“I always felt like after that I was waiting for whatever is going to happen next, but knowing it’s been three years is crazy. I’m much more used to the accent now, so it makes life easier, and most people are willing to understand, be interested or be really nice, so I’m really lucky in that way.
“It’s just shown me anything can happen, and time keeps going, so I have to keep going too, no matter what life throws at me. I’m excited for what the future holds – and God knows what will happen next!”
