This is a very rare, curious syndrome that strikes people who have had a stroke or other brain injury- multiple sclerosis has also been thought to trigger FAS. In some patients, after a stroke, they may suddenly begin speaking their native language with a foreign accent! Many of these patients claim never to have heard the language from which their accent is derived!
The condition often clears up on its own, but many doctors believe it is more psychiatric in nature than an organically caused syndrome. Recently researchers at Oxford University have found small areas of brain damage, affecting the pre-motor and motor areas in patients that suffer from FAS. These minute brain injuries may be causing subtle changes to how voice is expressed-causing altered pitch or syllables with different pronunciations.
For additional reading on Foreign Accent Syndrome:
ASHA
http://www.asha.org/about/publications/leader-online/archives/2006/060815/f060815c.htm
Eureka Alert
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2003-11/uocf-ucd111803.php
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