Lead supervisor:
Dr Eirini Sanoudaki 
Other supervisor(s):
- Dr Sarah Cooper
Start date: October 2024 (Full time)
Award: General
Subject Pathway:
Linguistics and Bilingualism
Thematic Cluster:
Language, Learning and Behaviour Cluster
Understanding the Experiences of Multiply Neurodivergent Language Learners
Dyslexia, autism, and ADHD are well researched in second language acquisition (SLA) (e.g., Kormos & Smith, 2023), with focus increasingly turning to the lived experiences of these neurodivergent language learners (e.g., Caldwell-Harris, 2024; Köder et al., 2024; Nolte et al., 2021). However, many forms of neurodivergence have not yet been studied in relation to SLA, despite featuring characteristics that are likely to be impactful (Kormos & Smith, 2023), and current SLA research is also yet to explore the reality of high co-occurrence between neurodivergent groups. Estimates indicate that approximately 70% of autistic people belong to one other neurodivergent group and 40% belong to two (Simonoff et al., 2008), while the respective estimates for Tourette syndrome are 85.7% and 57.7% (Hirschtritt et al., 2015). The co-occurrence rate between SpLDs is estimated to be 70% (Kormos & Smith, 2023). Autistic and ADHD people also have a greater likelihood of developing PTSD (Biederman et al., 2014; Rumball et al., 2020).
It is vital that lived experiences guide exploratory research to ensure that it is reflective of and beneficial to the priorities of multiply neurodivergent people, therefore the aim of this research is to build upon existing studies by seeking to understand the lived experiences of multiply neurodivergent language learners.
Bibliography
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