Hammond Associates

Speech-Language Pathology

Hammond Associates is a Speech-Language Pathology practice in Portland, ME with healthcare providers who have 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. Speech-Language Pathologists at Hammond Associates perform 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 at Speech-Language Pathology practices 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 Pathology practices 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.

Behavior Analysis

Hammond Associates is a Behavior Analysis practice in Portland, ME with healthcare providers who have special training and skill in improving patients' quality of life by helping to adjust their behaviors. Behavior Analysts at Hammond Associates perform behavioral assessments, patient parent education, and liaisons with other mental health professionals. Behavior Analysis is a medical specialty centered on improving patients' mental or physical behavioral health by applying the principles of behavioral psychology to structured treatment plans. Significant diseases and conditions treated at Behavior Analysis practices include autism, drug addiction, eating disorders, traumatic brain injuries, and congenital birth defects. Medical tests, procedures and therapies provided by Behavior Analysis practices include conducting research and behavior assessments, participating in one-on-one therapy sessions with patients, and formulating and overseeing treatment plans to adjust patient behavior for positive goal achievement.

A behavior analyst is qualified by at least a master's degree and Behavior Analyst Certification Board certification and/or a state-issued credential (such as a license) to practice behavior analysis independently. Behavior analysts provide the required supervision to assistant behavior analysts and behavior technicians. A behavior analyst delivers services consistent with the dimensions of applied behavior analysis. Common services may include, but are not limited to, conducting behavioral assessments, analyzing data, writing and revising behavior-analytic treatment plans, training others to implement components of treatment plans, and overseeing implementation of treatment plans.

Audiology

Hammond Associates is an Audiology practice in Portland, ME with healthcare providers who have special training and skill in diagnosing, treating, and preventing conditions and injuries that affect the sense of sound and balance. Audiologists at Hammond Associates perform diagnostic tests to detect issues with hearing and balance, and provides preventative and treatment options to address them. Audiology is the field of medicine concerned with the sense of hearing and how it affects the rest of the mind and body. Significant diseases and conditions treated at Audiology practices include hearing loss, balance issues, tinnitus, vertigo, barotrauma, and auditory processing disorder. Medical tests, procedures and therapies provided by Audiology practices include conducting hearing assessments, providing hearing aids and cochlear implant, and teaching methods of speech like lip-reading.

A specialist in evaluation, habilitation and rehabilitation of those whose communication disorders center in whole or in part in hearing function. Audiologists are autonomous professionals who identify, assess, and manage disorders of the auditory, balance and other neural systems. Audiologists provide audiological (aural) rehabilitation to children and adults across the entire age span. Audiologists select, fit and dispense amplification systems such as hearing aids and related devices. (2) An audiologist is a person qualified by a master's degree in audiology, licensed by the state, where applicable, and practicing within the scope of that license. Audiologists evaluate and treat patients with impaired hearing. They plan, direct and conduct rehabilitative programs with audiotry substitutional devises (hearing aids) and other therapy.