Natalie D. Hammel

Speech-Language Pathologist

Ms. Natalie D. Hammel is a Speech-Language Pathologist in Salem, VA with special training and skill in preventing, assessing, diagnosing, and treating speech, language, cognitive communication, and swallowing disorders arising from illness, injury, deficiency, or congenital birth defect. As a Speech-Language Pathologist, Natalie D. Hammel performs testing, evaluation, and treatment of disorders relating to how patients form words, communicate, and process the speech of others. Speech-Language Pathology is a medical specialty that deals with disorders related to how patients form words, speak, and understand what others are saying to them. Significant diseases and conditions treated by Speech-Language Pathologists include speech disorders like stuttering and dysarthia, language disorders like articulation and phonological processing disorders, social communication disorders, cognitive-communication disorders, voice disorders, and swallowing disorders that may arise from conditions like stroke, dementia, brain injury, multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson's disease, autism, hearing loss, or congenital birth defects. Medical tests, procedures and therapies provided by Speech-Language Pathologists include speech and language assessment, hearing assessment, developing treatment plans based on assessment and test results, developing communications strategies for patients and caregivers, working with patients to achieve communication goals, and providing patient and parent education.

The speech-language pathologist is the professional who engages in clinical services, prevention, advocacy, education, administration, and research in the areas of communication and swallowing across the life span from infancy through geriatrics. Speech-language pathologists address typical and atypical impairments and disorders related to communication and swallowing in the areas of speech sound production, resonance, voice, fluency, language (comprehension and expression), cognition, and feeding and swallowing.

Speech Language Pathologists in Salem, VA

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Hearing Aid Audiologist

Ms. Natalie D. Hammel is a Hearing Aid Audiologist in Salem, VA with special training and skill in evaluating, diagnosing, treating, and managing hearing loss and balance disorders in adults and children. As a Hearing Aid Audiologist, Natalie D. Hammel performs exams on ear anatomy and physiology, then prescribes and manages amplification devices, cochlear implants, and auditory rehabilitation. Audiology (Hearing Aid Fitting) is the treatment and management of hearing loss and balance disorders. Significant diseases and conditions treated by Hearing Aid Audiologists include hearing loss, balance disorders and tinnitus. Medical tests, procedures and therapies provided by Hearing Aid Audiologists include hearing exams, hearing aid fittings, treatment for balance disorders and tinnitus, as well as hearing and speech rehabilitation.

An audiologist/hearing aid fitter is the professional who specializes in evaluating and treating people with hearing loss, conducts a wide variety of tests to determine the exact nature of an individual's hearing problem, presents a variety of treatment options to patients, dispenses and fits hearing aids, administers tests of balance to evaluate dizziness and provides hearing rehabilitation training. This classification should be used where individuals are licensed as "audiologist-hearing aid fitters" as opposed to states that license individuals as "audiologists".

Hearing Aid Audiologists in Salem, VA

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