Stroke victim who started speaking with Italian accent after losing speech for 3 months feels she has lost her identity A stroke victim who started speaking with an Italian accent after initially losing her speech for three months has said it feels like someone is "impersonating" her. Althia Bryden, 58, a medically retired customer service advisor who lives in Highbury, London, with her husband and full-time carer, Winston, 63, suffered a stroke on May 4 2024, which she said left her unable to speak or feel the right side of her body.