STRANGERS often assume that Kathy Melling is French when they hear her speak.

But the 53-year-old comes from Hampshire, and what sounds like an accent is actually the result of a severe stroke which she suffered last November.

The mother-of-two is one of thousands of people living with communication difficulties after a stroke. Initially, she couldn’t speak, but after four days she recovered her speech, but with a different accent, a condition known as Foreign Accent Syndrome.

Kathy, who was an infant teacher before her stroke, says: “No one was more shocked than I was when I started speaking with an accent.

“To begin with, I had virtually no voice after the stroke.

“Then my voice came back, but it sounded Scandinavian, and I had to force the sounds out.”

Kathy says her voice now sounds more French than Scandinavian.

“My accent gradually changed over the first eight weeks, when I was lucky enough to receive the most intense speech therapy, first in hospital and then from the early stroke discharge team.

“A French person would never think I sounded French, but native English speakers do. People try to pay me compliments about the accent being exotic, maybe because they feel embarrassed about commenting on it.

“My husband sometimes jokes that it’s like living on the set of ‘Allo ‘Allo!.”

She adds that she often has to explain herself to people, who are curious about her voice.

“If I just say I’m from Ringwood, some people assume I’m joking, or push for the real explanation.

“I have grown more confident in using this as a chance to explain about the different effects of stroke, how it can affect young people, and how the effects are not immediately obvious when you look at someone.

“I’m really lucky that I have the opportunity to spread this awareness.”

She adds that there are, however, times when she doesn’t want to have to explain herself.

“Occasionally, when I’m tired or overwhelmed, I just show people the cards that my husband made. These simply explain the cause of my accent, and ask them not to draw attention to it.”

Kathy says that although she sometimes struggles to control her speech, she is extremely grateful that she is able to speak, regardless of what accent she appears to have.

“I always remind myself that I’m to thankful to have a voice,” she says. “I’m very grateful that I can still communicate and express myself. Although my accent has changed, I’m still able to communicate with others about stroke, which is really important. I’m continuing to work hard with my speech, and hope to one day get my old voice back. I’ve joined the Stroke Association’s Christchurch Peer Support Group, which has helped my confidence enormously.

“My stroke changed my life in an instant, and that’s why I’m really passionate about raising awareness of the condition by sharing my story.”

The Stroke Association’s Lost for Words campaign aims to raise awareness of the challenges that stroke survivors with communication difficulties can have, and of the help and support available.

“I lost a lot of confidence after my stroke,” says Kathy. “I still don’t make phone calls, and rely on family or friends to sort things out. I have difficulty processing what other people are saying, and thinking quickly enough to reply.

“However, I have experienced such kindness from people once they understand my difficulties, which is so reassuring.”

Claire Whitehouse, community stroke support assistant at the Stroke Association, says: “After a stroke, around one in three people, like Kathy, have difficulty communicating, which can be both terrifying and isolating.

“But with the right help and support, many stroke survivors are able to find new ways to communicate, and can rebuild their lives.”

Kathy adds: “I didn’t used to think I was particularly motivated or driven, but since my stroke, I have become determined to be able to do as much of the old things as I can.

“I worked really hard to relearn the ability to communicate, and now I am concentrating on improving my breath control and looking after the voice I have.”

And although Kathy had to retire from teaching as she could not communicate effectively enough, she is keeping herself busy with new challenges, and helps to begin volunteering in the future.

“I take part in therapy classes and gym classes,” she says.

“I’m learning snowboarding and I have begun practicing Qigong, which is great for movement, balance and breath control. I am also back doing pilates.

“I also try to spend more time with the people who are important to me – my family and friends.”

*More than 350,000 people in the UK have aphasia, a communication disability which can be caused by stroke. The Stroke Association is urging people to show their support for stroke survivors who are lost for words and make a donation. For more information, visit www.strokw.org.uk/lostforwords