When families or adult clients consider speech and language therapy, they often picture a formal clinical examination: cold waiting rooms, stopwatch testing, and intimidating clipboards. At Hibiki Speech, we have spent every year since our founding in 2014 doing things quite differently. When you walk into our second-floor clinic at 18 Linden Row in Westmere, you step into a warm, domestic setting filled with natural window light, light oak furniture, and quiet corners designed for listening.
Your journey actually begins several days before your visit, during a free fifteen-minute introductory telephone call with our family coordinator, Claire Dumont. Claire listens to your concerns, explains our clinical approach, and ensures that you are paired with the therapist whose expertise best matches your needs. Under our clinic badge promise, all new clients are seen within two weeks of that initial call, removing the anxiety of prolonged waiting lists.
When you arrive for your ninety-minute initial assessment, you are met by your designated therapist—whether that is Ines Halvorsen for an early talker, Mateo Lindqvist for stroke rehabilitation, or Noor Haddad for childhood speech sounds. We charge a transparent fee of €180 for this assessment, which includes an extensive written plan delivered within five working days. Most importantly, the therapist who greets you on day one is the same clinician who will guide your entire block of therapy, providing unbroken continuity and trust.
The ninety minutes unfolds at a gentle, natural pace. We begin with our foundational principle: listen. Before introducing any formal evaluation tools, we sit together and observe how communication happens when everyone is comfortable. For a young child, this means playing on our soft floor mat with wooden trains, animal figures, or simple illustrated cards. Parents sit right beside their child on the mat or relax on our sofa with a cup of tea. There are no demands to perform, no buzzers, and no right or wrong answers. We simply watch how your child initiates ideas, points, gestures, or forms speech sounds while having fun.
For adult clients, the assessment takes place at a peaceful window table overlooking Linden Row. Whether you are recovering from a stroke, navigating word-finding challenges, or exploring vocal strain with Mina Castell, the atmosphere is dignified and respectful. Your therapist takes time to understand your daily routines, your professional voice demands, and the exact moments where words feel stuck or strained.
Toward the end of the appointment, your therapist shares preliminary observations and outlines practical next steps. Rather than leaving you in suspense, we discuss realistic goals openly. If continuing care is recommended, we typically suggest our standard block of eight weekly forty-five-minute sessions, supported by a daily ten-minute home practice card.
Within five working days of your appointment, your therapist completes your comprehensive written report. This document avoids confusing medical terminology, instead offering a clear, objective summary of what was observed during the ninety minutes. It outlines practical recommendations for everyday routines, provides itemised details suitable for your health insurer, and details the exact communication exercises that will form the basis of your therapy block. Whether you choose to begin therapy immediately or take time to consider your options, the report belongs entirely to you, providing a valuable developmental roadmap.
Leaving a first assessment should feel like a weight lifted. You leave 18 Linden Row with a clear understanding of how communication works, a dedicated therapist by your side, and the confidence that every step forward will be taken at your own pace.