Hunter Speech Pathology Pty Ltd

Nikki is amazing. She genuinely saved my life. She figured out what GP's and ENT's couldn't! It took 15 years to find the right person. I am now getting treatment and responding well. She has changed my life.

The principal of this practise, Nikki is hot and cold. I am sorry to say this but i do believe in honest feedback and i do give positive when earned.She may have qualifications and experience but i feel sometimes she has lost her passion. I find some of her sessions seem lazy and time is wasted with too much floor playing, no words or sound practice but then setting homework for you to do the hard work. Homework is important, YES, but the floor playing is something WE parents can do at home for free!I find there's not a lot of communication between the parent and herself at times but this is not always the case either, i just felt some sessions where she seems she's not really interested in what you say or cuts you off, sometimes abruptly and sometimes not too. On occassions she can be quite blunt and cold addressing the child but other times great fun and silly whuch the kids would love. A few times i felt she over stepped the boundary in reprimanding behaviour but i also didnt challenge that either. I worked out i think it depends on the day Nikki is having herself.Personal and professional is something we all struggle with, sometimes!This office could be better unfortunately, which is surprising as Nikki always looks upkept herself, I know this shouldn't reflect on therapy experience however, i strongly believe the environmental setting the theme especially for children is so important. The practice is set in one of those dingy office spaces in the old run down Colonial centre and unfortunately ALWAYS smelly. You will get accustomed to the smell after a few moments in the small waiting room, so dont worry. It's very inconvenient walking through other therapist and client sessions to get to Nikkis room for therapy. My Mr would get very distracted by the therapy in the other room..i disliked doing this interrupting the other clients and you can hear everything from the other room. Laughter, the other therapists instructions, the crying and most of the screaming of the ones that are trying so hard to fit in their special world. I know she was planning on putting another door in but we no longer attend so I am unsure if its the same. You also are distracted by the many people who stroll by the large windows or rest up near the window for a break and cigarette. Not an ideal environment for such important therapy. Children are too over stimulated by all this movement outside especially seeing the dogs.There's also only one chair for the Parent. The therapist and child lay on the floor surrounded by tall wardrobes and a small desk. I really don't like this at all. It's quite a claustrophobic type feel. No room to move at all. Its like an oversized walk in robe to be truthful.I must say in the time we spent here before moving on to another centre we didn't really see alot of improvement compared to now where 'little 4' is now reaching milestones, no offence to Nikki but i feel we are getting more launguage and word/sound recall lessons. We learnt how important floor play is with HSP and there definately were many things learnt during our time there. i dont want this to be all negative, but honest feedback is important when we have little ones that need to thrive.Sometimes I guess you have all the qualifications but it's how you put it in to practice that helps. I do know once Nikki had a thriving passion, now i think she needs a holiday and change.Parking can be an issue and be sure to look at the cancellation fee policy! Its a wow factor! We do appreciate our time spent here and everyone i am sure has their own opinions . this is ours. i feel bad giving 1 star however my stars are catergorised and points given or taken accordingly to several factors not just the therapy received.

Nikki has been amazing with my son, tailoring lessons according to his mood on the day to maximise the time.He has improved at a pace i couldn’t have imagined thanks to Nikki and her teaching style. He is never not excited to go.Communication is spot on as well as the detailed homework given for the week.I couldn’t recommend hunter speech pathology more in particular Nikki.