Hayley's research focuses on human health and wellbeing with a particular interest in enriching the lives of children with neurodevelopmental disorders associated with intellectual disability. Her current research involves the development of a clinical tool that helps parents/carers and clinicians to identify the causes of behaviours that challenge in children with moderate-profound intellectual disability. She has previously investigated risk and resilience factors associated with preterm birth, and the development of musical pattern perception in typically developing children and children with autistic spectrum disorder.

Hayley studied music at the University of Salford, before she went on to do an MSc and PhD at the Applied Music Research Centre at the University of Roehampton. She investigated the development of melodic pattern perception in children and adults with autism spectrum disorder and their typically developing peers. During her PhD, she was awarded the SEMPRE Gerry Farrell Travelling Scholarship and the Santander and Ede & Ravenscroft Travel Grant. Thereafter, Hayley worked for the PremLife research project at the University of Warwick where she studied risk and resilience factors of children and adults born preterm across the lifespan. She now works as a Research Fellow at Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, developing a clinical tool to better identify the causes of behaviours that challenge in children with a moderate-profound intellectual disability. Hayley was awarded the Collaboration and Co-production Fund in July 2023 for her project titled 'Behaviours of Concern at Special Schools: Sharing Experiences'.