Does my child need an autism diagnosis to start speech therapy?
No. Speech therapy is based on your child’s communication needs. A diagnosis can give useful context, but support does not need to wait for one.
Speech therapy for autistic children in Dubai
Every autistic child communicates in their own way. Some talk a lot, some use a few words, and some do not use speech yet. My aim is not to make a child communicate like everyone else, but to make sure they have an effective way to be understood, to connect with the people around them and to take part in everyday life.
I support autistic children and their families in Dubai, building on each child’s strengths and interests. I am trained in the Hanen More Than Words programme for parents of autistic children.
Ask about your child · Parent guide
Areas I work on
- Early communication: shared attention, turn-taking and communicating on purpose
- Functional communication: asking for help, making choices, saying “no” or “finished”
- Understanding language, with visual support where it helps
- Building words, phrases and sentences
- Social communication: conversation and understanding social situations
- Other ways to communicate, such as pictures, signs or devices, alongside speech
Joining your child’s world first
Before I ask a child to join my world, I need to be willing to join theirs. If a child loves trains, trains become the centre of our session. If they enjoy lining up toys, I may line up toys beside them. Connection comes first, and communication grows from it.
I also look at the why behind behaviour. If a child becomes upset or moves away from an activity, I want to understand what happened before that moment: was the language too complex, the room too noisy, or did they not have a way to say what they needed?
Working with parents
Communication happens all day, not only in therapy. I show parents how to create opportunities to communicate in everyday routines like getting dressed, snack time and play, so new skills carry over into home and school.
Questions parents ask
My child does not talk yet. Can speech therapy still help?
Yes. Every child has a way to communicate. Therapy builds on how your child already communicates and can include gestures, pictures or devices alongside speech. Using these supports does not stop children from developing speech.
What is Hanen More Than Words?
More Than Words is a Hanen programme that helps parents of autistic children support communication in everyday routines and play. I use its strategies when coaching parents.