Speech delay and late talkers: speech therapy in Dubai

Some children start talking later than others. Many catch up, but some need support, and it is not always easy to tell which is which. If you are worried about how your child is talking or understanding, it is better to ask early than to wait and see.

I support toddlers and young children in Dubai with early communication, first words, putting words together and understanding language. I am trained in the Hanen programmes It Takes Two to Talk and More Than Words, and in Colourful Semantics.

Ask about your child · Parent guide

Speech or language?

Speech is how we produce sounds and words. Language is the words we understand and use, and how we put them together. A child can have difficulties with one or both. A late talker may have few words but understand a lot; another child may talk a lot but find it hard to understand instructions or put sentences together.

Signs your child may need support

Every child develops at their own pace, and an assessment can tell you whether your child would benefit from support.

No babbling, pointing or waving by around 12 months
Few or no words by 18 months
Not putting two words together by 2 years
Speech that familiar people find hard to understand by around 3 years
Difficulty understanding or following simple instructions
Losing words or skills they had before (ask for an assessment straight away)

Children growing up with more than one language

Many families in Dubai speak two or more languages at home. Learning more than one language does not cause a speech or language delay, and you do not need to drop a home language. A child with a true language delay will show it across all of their languages, which is why I look at how your child communicates in each one.

How I help late talkers

After an assessment, therapy is built around your child’s interests and everyday routines. Much of the progress happens between sessions, so I work closely with parents: following your child’s lead, waiting and leaving space for them to communicate, and modelling the words they need, like “help me”, “more” or “open”.

As words grow, I help children combine them into phrases and sentences, using structured approaches like Colourful Semantics where they help.

Questions parents ask

Should I wait and see if my child starts talking?

Many late talkers catch up, but some do not, and it is hard to know in advance. Support is generally most effective when it starts early, so if you have a concern it is better to ask for an assessment than to wait.

Do bilingual children talk later?

Learning two or more languages does not cause a language delay. Bilingual children may mix languages or have fewer words in each language, but their total vocabulary is usually similar. A true delay shows up across all of their languages.

What age can a child start speech therapy?

There is no minimum age. Speech-language therapists work with babies and toddlers on early communication, as well as with older children.