Hilaria Baldwin Reveals ADHD, Dyslexia Impacting Accent in New Memoir

NEW YORK CITY, New York – Hilaria Baldwin has opened up about the fluctuating nature of her accent, which shifts between Spanish and American, in her new memoir, “Manual Not Included,” released Tuesday. Baldwin, who has been in the spotlight since being outed for misrepresenting her heritage, attributes this variation to her neurodivergence, specifically ADHD and dyslexia.

In her book, Baldwin explains, “I have ADHD and dyslexia. And these [diagnoses] greatly impact my speech, my reading, my listening, my focus, my memory, and my self-confidence.” Her admissions come years after public scrutiny began in 2020 when many discovered she was born Hillary Hayward-Thomas in Boston, not in Spain as previously claimed.

The former Yoga Vida co-founder often spoke with a Spanish accent and referenced a Spanish heritage, leading to controversies when older interviews showcased her speaking in different accents. In one clip from the “TODAY” show, Baldwin was seen forgetting the English word for cucumber, asking, “How do you say it in English?” while pointing at the vegetable.

Following the backlash, Baldwin attempted to clarify her background in a deleted Instagram video, stating, “I spent some of my childhood in Boston, some of my childhood in Spain.” However, reports indicate that her parents did not move to Mallorca until 2011 when Baldwin was already 27 years old.

Baldwin is married to actor Alec Baldwin since 2012, and they have seven children together: Carmen, 11, Rafael, 9, Leonardo, 8, Romeo, 6, Eduardo, 4, María, 4, and Ilaria, 2. Their family currently stars in TLC’s reality show, “The Baldwins,” which premiered in February.

In her memoir, Baldwin reflects on the mental toll of the public scrutiny, stating, “I started to really unravel. I was confused. I felt lost. I missed my family. I couldn’t eat. I got very thin.” She praises Alec for his support during difficult times, describing him as empathetic due to his own experiences with public criticism.

As she navigates this personal landscape, Baldwin encourages readers to accept unique differences, saying, “I can really succeed in the right environments and tasks.”

“Manual Not Included” is available now, adding new chapters to Baldwin’s life story and opening a conversation about neurodivergence’s impact on personal identity.