Robert Sweetow, PhD

Dr. Robert Sweetow is a gifted clinician, teacher, and researcher. Dr. Sweetow has provided personal care for many patients with hearing loss, and he has helped countless other audiologists to improve their care for people with hearing loss by his teaching and research. Audiologists around the world recognize the many contributions made by Dr. Sweetow in the areas of aural rehabilitation, hearing aids, tinnitus, counseling, and forensics.

Dr. Sweetow received a BS degree in Communicative Disorders from the University of Iowa, an MA degree in Communicative Disorders from the University of Southern California, and a PhD degree in Audiology from Northwestern University. Dr Sweetow is Director of Audiology and Clinical Professor of Otolaryngology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center.

Dr. Sweetow has been an educator in the clinic his entire career and s audiology education has changed, he has embraced the changes. One example is the exemplary 4th-year clinical externship he created at the UCSF Medical Center. He also has a passion to provide continuing education for practicing audiologists. His biannual audiology conferences have provided outstanding education for audiologists.

Dr. Sweetow’s passion to provide the best care for individuals with hearing loss motivated him to develop LACE, Listening and Communication Enhancement. LACE, an evidenced-based self-paced program, has become known around the world. He is truly a pioneer in implementing an effective and affordable rehabilitative program for people with hearing loss. Dr. Sweetow has improved hearing aid fitting with LACE’s easily accessible patient education. LACE is a wonderful example of Dr. Sweetow’s commitment to education, research, and clinical program development.

Dr. Sweetow has continued to investigate how best to provide audiologic assessment and treatment. He recently proposed an assessment model that focuses on patient function along with audiometric results, called the Functional Communication Assessment. He has proposed a comprehensive treatment program that includes patient education, auditory training, and amplification and assistive technologies with patient support with workshops and counseling.

Dr. Sweetow also has provided outstanding service to the Academy. He is known as a critical listener and contributor, and while serving on the Board of Directors, he helped to develop the Marketing and Public Relations Committee. He has participated in the scientific programs of every annual convention of the American Academy of Audiology.

Dr. Sweetow is among our most notable audiologists and is recognized around the world for his innovative contributions to Audiology.