Freya Hiles
Exploration of the ADHD dialect: Development of an ADHD-informed communication coding system
Freya Rosie Hiles
PhD Student
School of Psychological Sciences
Profile
Freya is a full-time PhD student in the School of Psychology, where she is supervised by Professors Marc Wilson and Matt Hammond. During her undergraduate studies, Freya became interested in ADHD interpersonal relationships. Her interest intensified as she noticed that the current scholarship rarely - if ever - reflected her own experiences of ADHD interpersonal relationships. After extensive discussion with the ADHD community, Freya realised that she was not uniquely unrepresented: many ADHDers had experiences that directly contradicted current ADHD research findings. After whinging about the lack of representation for a while, she decided she may as well do something about it!
In her research, Freya applies a neuroaffirming lens to ADHD communication, viewing it as a unique dialect rather than a dysfunctional use of language. She aims to contribute to a more compassionate understanding of ADHD communication, and to provide a structure to support more effective cross-neurotype communication.
Qualifications
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology
Bachelor of Science with Honours in Psychology (First Class)
Research Interests
Neurodiversity, communication, social interactions, interpersonal relationships, social norms and structures, conspiracy theories, superstitions, stereotypes, and social perceptions
PhD topic
Exploration of the ADHD dialect: Development of an ADHD-informed communication coding system
Supervisor/s
Lab
https://www.victoria.ac.nz/psyc/research/research-lab-sites