Diane J. German, Ph.D.

Diane J. German, Ph.D.
Professor, Special Education Program,
Diversity in Learning and Teaching Department
National Louis University, Chicago

Education
B.S. Indiana University
M.A. Northwestern University
PhD Northwestern University

Current Graduate Courses Taught

Online Graduate Study at National Louis University
SPE 525: Child Word-Finding: Intervention for Students with Language and Learning Disabilities
SPE 526: Expressive Language Difficulties: Impact on Academic Learning
SPE 502: Language Development and Challenges in Children and Adolescents With Special Needs

Current Continuing Education Courses Taught

Word-Finding Assessment in Children and Adolescents: Beyond Picture Naming
Audio Course Available at the ASHA Store

Intervention in Word Finding
Online Self Study Course Available at Northern Speech Services

Areas of Expertise

Word Finding Difficulties
Language and Learning Disabilities
Expressive Language Difficulties
Impact of Language Difficulties on Reading
Impact of Language Difficulties on Written Language

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Diagnostic Tests Published

German, D. J. (in press). Test of Word Finding, Third Edition
(TWF-3). Austin, Texas: Pro-ed.

German, D. J. (in process). Test of Adolescent/Adult Word Finding,
Second Edition (TAWF-2). Austin, Texas: Pro-ed.

German, D. J. (2000). Test of Word Finding, Second Edition (TWF-2). Austin, Texas: Pro-ed.

German, D.J. (1991). Test of Word Finding in Discourse (TWFD). Austin, TX: Pro-ed.

German, D.J. (1990). Test of Adolescent/ Adult Word Finding (TAWF. Austin, TX: Pro-ed.

German, D. J. (1986, 1989). Test of Word Finding (TWF). Dallas,
Texas: DLM.

Books Published

German, D.J. (2005). Word Finding Intervention Program, Second Edition (WFIP-2). Austin, TX: Pro-ed.

German, D. J. (2001). It's On The Tip Of My Tongue, Word-Finding Strategies to Remember Those Names and Words You Often Forget. Available through School Specialties, Interactive and
Janelle Publishers.

German, D.J. (1993). Word Finding Intervention Program (WFIP). Austin, TX: Pro-ed.

Selected Publications

German, D. J. (in press). Child word finding, Differential diagnosis guides differentiated assessment and instruction, In, Eds. Elaine Silliman and Ruth Huntley Bahr, Handbook of Communication Disorders, New York:Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group.

German, D. J. (2014). Child word finding: Differentiated reading assessment. Dyslexia Connection, International Dyslexia Association Newsletter.

German, D. J., Schwanke, J. K., & Ravid, R. (2012). Word Finding: Differentiated vocabulary instruction in the speech and language room. Communications Disorders Quarterly, 33(3), 146-156.

German, D.J. (2009, February). Child word finding, Student voices enlighten us. Featured article in the ASHA Leader.

German, D.J. (2008). Formulate a second hypothesis: Word finding based oral reading errors. Featured article in the Newsletter of the Illinois
Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ISHA) 33(2), 10-12.

German, D.J., & Newman, R.S. (2007). Oral reading skills of children with oral language (word finding) difficulties. Reading Psychology, 28:5, 397 – 442.

Newman, R.S. & German, D.J. (2005). Life span effects of lexical factors on oral naming. Language and Speech, 48(2), 123-156.

German, D.J., & Newman, R.S. (2004). The impact of lexical factors on children’s word finding errors. Journal of Speech and Hearing Research, 47 (3), 624-636.

German, D.J. (2002). A phonologically based strategy to improve word-finding abilities in children, Communication Disorders Quarterly, 23(4), 179-192.

Newman, R. S., & German, D.J. (2002). Effects of lexical factors on lexical access among typical language-learning children and children with word-finding difficulties. Language and Speech, 43(3), 285-317.

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Selected Posters and Technical Presentations

German, D.J., Newman, R.S., & Jagielko, J. (2013, November). "Lexical Factors of Words Influence Word-Finding Accuracy, Substitutions, & Error Patterns: Implications for Intervention." Poster presented at the American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (ASLHA), Chicago, IL.

German, D.J. (2013, August). "Child word finding: Differential diagnosis of semantic and phonological word finding error patterns," International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics. (IALP), Turin, Italy.

German, D. J. (2012, September). "Word Finding in TBI, Characteristics and Intervention." Presentation at the North America Brain Injury Society (NABIS), Miami, Fl.

German, D. J. (2011, November). "Differential diagnosis and differentiated instruction for learners with word finding difficulties." Presentation at the American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (ASHA), San Diego, CA.

German, D. J. & Schwanke, J. Ravid, R (2010, November). "Child Word-Finding: Embed Retrieval Strategies in Tier-3 Vocabulary Instruction." Poster at the American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (ASLHA), Philadelphia, PA.

German, D. J. & Schwanke, J. Ravid, R. (2009, November)." Child Word Finding: Preliminary Research Supports Dual-Focus Vocabulary Instruction," Presentation at the American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (ASLHA), New Orleans, Louisiana.

German, D. J. & Schwanke, J. (2009, February). "Teaching Retrieval Strategies Also, Dual Focus Vocabulary Instruction for Word-Finding." Presentation at the Illinois Speech and Hearing Association (ISHA), Chicago, IL.

Wakefield, D., VanSlyke, P., & German, D.J. (2008, November). "Language Difficulties: Technology Interventions within an RTI Model." Presentation at the American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (ASLHA), Chicago, Il.

German, D.J. (2008, November). "Word-Finding (WF) Difficulties: Programming within an RTI Service Delivery Model." Presentation at the American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (ASLHA), Chicago, IL.

German, D.J., & Newman, R.S. (2008, February). "Is oral reading assessment valid for learners with Word Finding difficulties?" Presentation at the Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA), Chicago, IL.

German, D.J. (2007, November). "Dual-Focus vocabulary instruction for Word Finding,meanings and retrieval strategies." Presentation at the American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (ASLHA), Boston, MA. (Attendance, approximately 1,000 participants).

Newman, R.S. & German, D.J. (2007, November). "Impact of lexical factors on oral naming and oral reading." Poster presented at the American Speech, Language, and Hearing
Association (ASLHA), Boston, MA.

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German, D.J., & Newman, R. J. (2006, November). "Do learner’s Word-Finding difficulties interfere with oral reading success?" Presentation at the International Dyslexia Association
(IDA), Indianapolis, IN.

German, D. J. (2006, October)."Dual focus vocabulary instruction from the new Word Finding Intervention Program, Second Edition, (WFIP-2)". Invited presentation at the Illinois Branch of the International Dyslexia Association (IBDA), Oakbrook Terrace, IL.

German, D. J. & Schwanke, J. (2006, February). "Word Finding intervention: Mnemonic cueing and metalinguistic strategies for students." Presentation at the Illinois Speech and Hearing
Association (ISHA), Chicago, IL.

German, D.J. & Newman, R.S. (2005, July). "Word Finding based oral reading errors." Paper presented at the International Congress of the Study of Child Language (ICSAL), Freie Universität Berlin, Germany."

German, D.J. & Newman, R. J. (2005, November). Miscues or language difficulties: Word-Finding based oral reading errors. Presentation at the American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (ASLHA), San Diego, CA.

Newman, R.S. & German, D.J. (2004, November)." Life Span effects of lexical factors on oral naming." Poster presented at the American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (ASLHA), Pittsburg, PA.

Selected Seminars Taught

German, D. J. (2014, February). Differential Diagnosis and Comprehensive Word Finding Intervention, Victoria, British Columbia

German, D. J. (2013, October). Word Finding: Differential Diagnosis And Word Finding, Speech Pathologists & Audiologists In Louisiana Schools (SPALS). Cajun dome, Lafayette, LA.

German, D. J. (2013, May). Differential Diagnosis and Comprehensive Word Finding Intervention, District # 21, Wheeling, IL.

German, D. J. (2013, February). Differential Diagnosis and Comprehensive Word Finding Intervention, District # 39, Wilmette, IL.

German, D. J. (2013, February). Differential Diagnosis and Comprehensive Word Finding Intervention, District # 64, Park Ridge, IL.

German, D. J. (2012, April). Seminar 1: Differential Diagnosis Via Deep Assessment in Word Finding; Seminar 2: Comprehensive WF Intervention Based on Deep Assessment. Manitoba Speech and Hearing Association, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

German, D. J. (2012, February). Seminar 1: Differential Diagnosis Via Deep Assessment in Word Finding; Seminar 2: Comprehensive WF Intervention Based on Deep Assessment. San Mateo County Speech-Language Hearing Association (SMCSLHA). San Mateo, CA.

German, D. J. (2011, October). Seminar 1: Differential Diagnosis Via Deep Assessment in Word Finding; Seminar 2: Comprehensive WF Intervention Based on Deep Assessment. Annual OSSPEAC conference. Columbus, Ohio.

German, D. J. (2011, May). Seminar 1: Adult Word Finding,Differential Diagnosis Via Deep Assessment in Word Finding; Seminar 2: Adult Word Finding, Deep Assessment and Comprehensive Intervention. Annual meeting of the Baycrest Medical Center, Speech and Language Pathologists. Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

German, D. J. (2011, March). Differential Diagnosis of Word FindingDifficulties in Children. Communications Disorders Program at the University of Mahidol, Bangkok, Thailand.

German, D. J. (2011, January). Seminar 1: Formulate a Second Hypothesis, Word Finding Based Oral Reading Errors; Seminar 2: Oral Reading Is Oral Word Finding, Supporting Research; Seminar 3: Word Finding Sensitive Reading Assessment. Annual meeting of the Colorado Collaborative Conference, Courage to Risk in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

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German, D.J., (November, 2010). Seminar I, Differential Diagnosis via Deep Assessment in Word Finding, Montreal Fluency Center Conference, Montreal, Quebec.

German, D.J., (November, 2010). Seminar II, Comprehensive Word Finding Intervention based on Deep Word Finding Assessment. Invited Presentation at the Montreal Fluency Center Conference, Montreal, Quebec.

German, D.J., (October, 2010). Seminar I, Comprehensive Word Finding Intervention. Speech Pathologists And Audiologists In Louisiana Schools Conference (SPALS), Shreveport, Louisiana .

German, D.J., (April, 2010). Differential Diagnosis via Deep Assessment in Word Finding. Missouri Speech and Hearing Association Conference, Springfield, Missouri.

German, D.J., (April, 2010). Comprehensive Word Finding Intervention based on Deep Word Finding Assessment. Missouri Speech and Hearing Association Conference, Springfield, Missouri.

German, D.J., (March, 2010). Child Word-Finding: Intervention within a RTI Service Delivery Model. Seminar Presented at the Northern Illinois Speech and Hearing Association Conference, Rockford, IL

German, D. J. (2009, October). Word Finding: Diagnosis, Intervention, and Reading Accommodations, Three Word Finding Seminars. Invited presentation at the Arkansas Speech Language and Hearing Association (ARKSHA) annual meeting, Little Rock, Arkansas.

German, D. J. (2009, February). Tier 2 Interventions: Dual Focus Vocabulary Instruction For Learners with Word-Finding Difficulties. Invited presentation at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville Il.

German, D. J. (2009, February). Programming in Word Finding: Comprehensive intervention based on deep assessment. Invited presentation at the Wisconsin Speech and Hearing Association (WSHA) annual meeting in Madison Wisconsin.

German, D.J. (2008, July). Programming in Word Finding: Deep assessment and comprehensive intervention. 2 full day seminars for Saint Xavier University, Chicago, IL.

German, D. J. (2008, April). Programming in Word Finding: Deep assessment and comprehensive intervention. Invited Presentation at the Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (CASLPA), Kananaskis, Alberta.

German, D. J. (2007, October). Programming in Word Finding: Comprehensive intervention based on deep assessment. Invited presentation at the Indiana Speech and Hearing Association (ISHA) annual meeting, Carmel Indiana.

German, D. J. (2007, October). Word Finding: Intervention for improved school performance. Invited presentation at the MISD and Macomb/St. Clair Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Macomb Michigan.

German, D. J. (2007, September). Programming in Word Finding: Comprehensive intervention based on deep assessment. Invited presentation at Wee Speech conference, Skokie, Il.

German, D.J. (2007, May). Programming in Word Finding: Deep assessment and comprehensive intervention. Invited Presentation, 2 full day seminars for Denmark SLP’s, Copenhagen, Denmark. Sponsored by Seminar, DK.

German, D. J. (2006, October). Programming in Word Finding: Deep assessment and comprehensive intervention. Invited presentation at the West Virginia Speech and Language Hearing Association (WVSLHA), Bridgeport Convention Center, Bridgeport, WV.

German, D.J. (2006, October). Impact of Word Finding on oral reading skills. Atlanta Speech School, Atlanta, Georgia.

German, D.J. (2006, September). Programming in Word Finding: Comprehensive intervention and deep assessment. New York City School Board, Queens, NY.

German, D.J. (2006, March). Learners with Word Finding (WF) difficulties: Mnemonic strategies for vocabulary instruction and WF accommodations for reading assessment. Invited presentation at the Language and Learning Institute, Emerson College, Boston MA.

German, D.J. (2006, January). Programming in Word Finding: Deep assessment and comprehensive intervention; Invited presentation at the Will-Grundy-Kendall Speech/Language and Hearing Association (WGKSHA).

German, D.J. (2005, October). Programming in Word Finding: Comprehensive intervention and deep assessment. SLP’s of the Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), Yorktown Heights, NY.

German, D.J. (2005, March). Programming in Word Finding: Deep assessment and comprehensive intervention. SWISHA, Mascoutah, IL.

German, D. J. (2004, January). Word Finding assessment and intervention. Invited presentation at the Hearing, Speech & Deafness Center, Seattle, Washington.

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