Assoc. Prof. Diane Jacobs

Dr Diane Jacobs is a senior lecturer in Speech Pathology in the School of Allied Health, Faculty of Science. Diane is the Speech Pathology course co-ordinator for the Melbourne campus. Diane is a Certified Practicing Speech Pathologist with 20 years clinical experience. Diane's predominate areas of clinical practice are paediatric speech and language disorders and child and adolescent mental health. Diane completed post-graduated studies in psychology and was awarded her PhD in 2009 from RMIT University. Diane's research examined the language, literacy, and behaviour of children diagnosed with a high-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder, Specific Language Impairment, or Specific Reading Disorder compared with typically developing peers in the first few years of schooling. Diane is a registered psychologist.

Prior to commencing at ACU Diane was employed in the School of Human Communication Sciences at LaTrobe University and in the School of Community Health, Charles Sturt University. Before that Diane was employed by the Royal Children's Hospital Mental Health Service.

Jacobs, D., & Richdale, A. (2013). Predicting literacy in children with a High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 34(8), 2379-2390.

Jacobs, D., & Richdale. A. (In press). Predictors of literacy for young children with a High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder. In: Arciuli, J., & Brock, J. (Eds.). Communication in Autism. Trends in Language Acquisition Research series (TiLAR). John Benjamins Publishing: Amsterdam. 

McCormack, J., Jacobs, D., & Washinton, K. (2012). Specific mental functions - Language (b167). In A. Majnemer (Ed). Measures for children with developmental disabilities: Framed by the ICF-CY. London: MacKeith Press. 

Jacobs, D., & Richdale, A. (2004). Language, speech and reading skills in children with developmental disabilities (Abstract). Australian Journal of Psychology, 56( Suppl.), 193.

Diane's areas of research interest include:

1. Language and literacy skills of children diagnosed with a developmental disability in particular a high-functioning autism spectrum disorder, specific language impairment, or specific reading disorder.

2. Psychopathology and adaptive behaviour of children with a developmental disability.

3. Applicability of normative test data to Australian populations.

4. Development of language assessments suitable for speech pathologists working in Vietnam. 

high-functioning autism spectrum disorder, specific language impairment, specific reading disability, psychopathology, adaptive behaviour, clinical education, applicability of normative data for Australian populations 

Certified Practicing Speech Pathologist, Speech Pathology Australia

Associate Member of the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre (LaTrobe University)

Registered Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency