Woman blames dental work for foreign accent
A US woman still has a European accent 18 months after it was caused by dental work.
Karen Butler – who has never travelled to the continent before – from Toledo, Oregon, had her top teeth and front row bottom teeth removed at the surgery in November 2009, leaving her with dentures and a voice that resembled a mix between an Eastern European, Swedish or British person.
The 56-year-old tax consultant had booked an appointment to be treated for gingivitis and later diagnosed herself with Foreign Accent Syndrome, which is usually the result of a brain injury.
Dr. Helmi Lutsep, professor and vice-chair of the Department of Neurology at Oregon Health & Science University, said the condition is rare, and he is unaware why it occurs.
He said: "We don't know exactly how or why it happens, but it simply affects rhythm of language. I'm absolutely convinced this is a real phenomenon. These people are not making it up."
