Global Developmental Delay · Dubai & UAE
Global developmental delay support in early childhood
Coordinated support for children showing delays across more than one area of development — movement, speech, thinking skills or social interaction — built around your child rather than a single label.
Early signs to look out for
What families often notice first.
Every child is different — this isn't a checklist for self-diagnosis, just what commonly prompts a conversation with us.
- Delays showing up in more than one area at once — for example, walking, talking and self-feeding all lagging behind other children the same age
- Noticeably slower progress than peers in play, problem-solving or following simple instructions
- Limited use of gestures, eye contact or back-and-forth interaction alongside slower motor or language skills
- Difficulty with self-help skills like feeding, dressing or toileting that other children their age are managing independently
- More than one person — a nursery teacher, GP or family member — independently raising concerns about your child's overall development
- Progress that plateaus for stretches instead of building steadily, even if it's naturally slower than other children the same age
How Special Minds helps
A plan, not a placement.
One coordinated plan, not separate referrals
When delay shows up across several areas at once, we build a single early intervention plan instead of sending you to unconnected specialists with no shared picture of your child.
Speech & language therapy
Support for understanding, communication and early language skills, delivered through play and everyday routines rather than formal drills.
Occupational therapy
Work on motor skills, coordination, sensory regulation and everyday self-help tasks like feeding, dressing and toileting.
A clear starting point
Our AED 199 Assessment, which includes a call with our Educational and Program Director, helps map out which areas need attention first — useful when a formal diagnosis hasn't been reached yet or is still some way off.
Support in Dubai & the UAE
Local, practical, no waitlists in the dark.
We work with young children across Dubai and Abu Dhabi who are showing delays in more than one area of development, often before any single diagnosis has been given. Support — therapy, coaching or an initial assessment — can usually start in parallel with the diagnostic process rather than waiting for it to finish. If you're not sure where your child's delay fits or what to do first, our [assessment](/assessment) is often the simplest place to begin.
Frequently asked
Questions parents ask us.
- Does "global developmental delay" mean my child will be diagnosed with something else later?
- Sometimes a more specific diagnosis follows in time, and sometimes it doesn't. Either way, we focus on the skills your child needs to build now rather than waiting on a label before starting support.
- Can therapy start before we have a formal diagnosis?
- Yes. Early intervention, speech and language therapy and occupational therapy can typically begin alongside, or even before, a formal diagnostic process is complete.
- How do you work out which therapies my child actually needs?
- We usually start by understanding which areas — motor, speech, cognitive or social — need the most attention, then build a plan around that rather than offering the same package to every child.
- Does insurance cover this kind of therapy?
- Coverage varies by insurer and policy, so we'll help you check what your plan includes once we know which therapies are involved for your child.
- What age does this apply to?
- Global developmental delay is typically identified in children under five, which is the age range our early intervention and therapy services are built around.
- Will my child need a classroom aide once they start nursery or school?
- Not necessarily. Some children manage well in a mainstream setting with therapy alone, while others benefit from one-to-one LSA support — we'll help you work out which fits as things progress.
Let's talk about global developmental delay support for your child.
No pressure, no obligation — just a conversation with our clinical lead.