Research Profile

Prof. Dr. Stephanie Rupp
Professor of Speech and Language Therapy
IU International University of Applied Sciences, Germany

About My Research

My research focuses on language development, communication, and participation across educational and healthcare contexts.

Working at the intersection of linguistics, psychology, speech and language therapy, and health sciences, I investigate language development and developmental language disorders, with particular attention to lexical-semantic development, assessment, and intervention.

A second focus is on health literacy, professional communication, and family-centred care, including the experiences and information needs of families navigating healthcare and educational services.

My work combines theoretical and empirical research with a commitment to evidence-based practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the translation of scientific findings into professional education and clinical practice.

Research Areas

1. Language Development, Word Learning & Developmental Language Disorder

My research examines lexical-semantic development, word learning, developmental language disorder (DLD), and language development in multilingual contexts.

A particular focus is on model-based assessment, individual profiles of lexical difficulties, mechanisms of word learning, and evidence-based approaches to language intervention.

Current research builds on previous work in lexical assessment and intervention, exploring the identification of subgroups of children with lexical difficulties and their implications for targeted intervention.

Keywords: Developmental Language Disorder · Lexical Development · Word Learning · Assessment · Language Intervention · Multilingualism

2. Health Literacy, Communication & Family-Centred Care

My research explores families‘ experiences of healthcare pathways, their information and support needs, and the role of professional communication in facilitating understanding, access to services, and participation in healthcare decisions.

Current projects address professional health literacy among speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists, with particular attention to information provision, counselling, and ensuring patient understanding.

A central aim is to contribute to accessible, empathetic, and participatory healthcare communication.

Keywords: Health Literacy · Family-Centred Care · Healthcare Pathways · Professional Communication · Patient Participation · Shared Decision-Making

3. Health Professions Education, AI & Research Development

My research and teaching in higher education focus on evidence-informed teaching, professional communication, empathy, clinical reasoning, and interprofessional learning.

I am involved in research on AI-supported patient simulations and communication training in health professions education.

I also support early-career researchers and students in developing scientific projects, disseminating research findings, and translating research into professional practice.

Keywords: Health Professions Education · AI-Based Simulation · Empathy · Interprofessional Education · Research Mentoring · Knowledge Transfer

Selected Publications

Language Development and Assessment

Rupp, S., & Ehl, B. (2025). Semantisch-lexikalische Störungen bei Kindern. Springer.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-71060-9

Family Experiences and Healthcare Pathways

Rupp, S., & Schwendemann, H. (2026). Mothers’ experiences of care pathways for children with speech and developmental concerns in Germany: A qualitative study of navigation, transitions, and communication. PLOS ONE.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0357294

Professional Health Literacy

Wieser, H., et al. (2026). Perspectives on professional health literacy in occupational, physio- and speech- and language therapy across four European countries. Discover Public Health.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-026-01653-3

AI-Supported Health Professions Education

Rädel-Ablass, K., et al. (2025). Teaching opportunities for anamnesis interviews through AI based teaching role plays: A survey with online learning students from health study programs. BMC Medical Education.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-06756-0

Research Mentoring & Knowledge Transfer

I support research-based student projects and early-career researchers, including doctoral research, collaborative publications, conference contributions, and the translation of academic research into clinical and educational practice.

My academic supervision and collaborative activities aim to strengthen scientific competencies, promote evidence-based practice, and support sustainable links between research, education, and professional practice.

Research Collaboration

I welcome interdisciplinary research exchange and collaboration in language development and disorders, family-centred healthcare, health literacy, professional communication, and health professions education.

Academic Profiles

Contact: stephanie.rupp@iu.org

Full publication list: https://www.stephanierupp.de/publikationen-2/