Some people suffer from health disorders that you may not have ever heard of before due to their rarity and unusual nature. In this article, we will discuss four of them, in an attempt to understand their nature and their impact on the lives of those affected.
Foreign Accent Syndrome: When You Speak Using a Language Other than Your Own
What would you do if you woke up one day and found yourself speaking a different accent or language you have not learned before? It may sound fantastical; yet, this is what happens to people who suffer from "Foreign Accent Syndrome", which is speaking an accent other than the native language, even though the afflicted person had never left their home country.
Foreign accent syndrome is a rare condition, with only around 100 cases reported worldwide. This syndrome occurs due to damage to areas in the brain and the muscles used during speech. In some cases, there may be no clear medical cause; this case sometimes occurs after an epileptic seizure or migraines, or it may be associated with certain mental disorders.
Some of the symptoms of this syndrome appear in the form of changes in the speaking rate, changes in the pitch and tone of the voice, and the person suffering from this syndrome may substitute letters for others. In some cases, affected individuals may return to their original accent; however, others may keep the language permanently.
Speech therapy helps control symptoms and reduce their severity through:
- Practicing how to move your jaw and lips when speaking.
- Psychological counseling that helps people cope with it.
In any case, foreign accent syndrome is not dangerous, but it can cause stress that affects the psychological state of those affected.
Walking Corpse Syndrome: When a person believes he is dead but is actually alive
In 2008, doctors were surprised to find a woman in her fifties who had been brought to the hospital by her family because she believed she was dead. You might think it is a scene from a movie, but this is real. It is a rare mental disorder known as Cotard's delusion or walking corpse syndrome, in which the sufferer believes they are dead, that their body parts have stopped working, or that they never existed.
Around 200 people from all over the world suffer from Cotard's delusion. People with this condition have dark thoughts and suffer from severe symptoms such as:
- Nihilism: They believe that nothing in life has any value or meaning.
- Depression and isolation.
- Hearing some voices telling them that they are dying or even that they have already died.
- They stop eating and drinking; some may try to harm themselves.
Scientists have not identified the specific causes of the syndrome, but researches have shown that it is linked to other medical conditions that affect the brain, such as:
- Dementia.
- Epilepsy.
- Some brain tumors or infection.
- Stroke or encephalopathy.
The treatment of Cotard's delusion depends on treating the underlying cause and other associated medical conditions. Patients achieve the best treatment outcomes when they combine medication with cognitive behavioral therapy or psychotherapy.
No doubt that Cotard's delusion is a dangerous condition as the patient believes they are dead. Therefore, rapid intervention and support are essential for those affected by this condition.
Exploding Head Syndrome
Falling asleep after a long day at work may be the moment you most look forward to; however, what if you are startled by sounds like explosions or gunshots, only to wake up in a panic and realize that these sounds are only inside your head?
This rare condition, known as exploding head syndrome, is a sleep disorder in which sufferers hear sudden phantom sounds while falling asleep. Despite its alarming name, it is not considered a serious condition.
Scientists are still studying this syndrome and they are trying to find out its causes, but there are several theories that might explain it, such as:
- Epileptic seizures in the temporal lobe of the brain.
- Damage to the inner ear.
- Abruptly stopping certain medications used to treat depression and anxiety.
Although people suffering from this syndrome feel that the sounds they hear seem very real, they do not hurt them or damage their ears. Educating the patient about the nature of the syndrome is the cornerstone of treatment. Attacks may decrease after reassuring the patient and helping them maintain healthy sleep habits, in addition to treating anxiety, depression, and associated sleep disorders.
Pica Disorder
Who does not enjoy the taste of fresh food? Eating is not just a physical need, but a pleasure that goes beyond satisfying hunger. However, what if you have an urge to eat inedible things like dirt, paper, or hair? It sounds strange, but it is a strange medical condition known as pica disorder.
Some people eat relatively harmless things like ice, but the problem can develop when they eat more dangerous things like bits of paint or pieces of metal. Pita disorder may appear temporarily in pregnant women and children under two years old as part of their growth and exploration of the world around them.
The causes of this disorder are unknown, but it often appears with mental or health disorders such as intellectual disabilities, autism, schizophrenia, and deficiencies of certain minerals such as zinc and iron. Some people may want to know the taste of certain things that they are attracted to the texture or smell of.
The seriousness of the disorder appears in the complications associated with it, such as:
- Poisoning, especially when ingesting metals such as lead.
- Infection or parasitic infestation.
- Digestive problems such as constipation and intestinal obstruction.
The treatment of pica disorder depends on treating the associated causes, such as replacing mineral and vitamin deficiencies, and treating accompanying health and psychological disorders. Doctors may also use behavioral therapy to help and focus on other activities and behaviors.
References
my.clevelandclinic.org
nationaleatingdisorders.org
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
webmd.comhealthline.com