Sterling Sheffield

Sterling Sheffield is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Western Washington University, serving as the Au.D. Graduate Advisor. He holds a Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University (2016) and an Au.D. from the University of Iowa (2011). His career includes postdoctoral research at Walter Reed Military Medical Center and prior faculty roles at the University of Florida.

Dr. Sheffield’s research focuses on speech perception, cochlear implants, hearing aids, spatial hearing, and bilingualism. He emphasizes over-the-counter hearing devices and their clinical implications. He teaches courses like Advanced Audiology, Hearing Aids I/II, and Cochlear Implants at the graduate level.

His recent publications explore topics like OTC hearing aid accuracy, sound localization effects on speech recognition, and cortical activation patterns in auditory processing. His work often integrates neuroimaging techniques like fNIRS to study auditory-cognitive interactions. Current studies address multisensory integration challenges in cochlear implant recipients and pediatric binaural hearing outcomes.

Dr. Sheffield’s clinical experience includes roles at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital. He actively contributes to audiology education, emphasizing evidence-based practices and emerging technologies in hearing healthcare.