“Dr. Singhania, who consults at the City Hospital and also runs her own clinic in Dubai Health Care City, The Singhania Children’s Clinic, is infamous. I have been warned first-hand, independently by five parents who saw her themselves, and were horrified when she prescribed anti-psychotics for their autistic children who were high-functioning and also, and two were under the age of three! Some of the mothers I talked to were so angry they were practically shaking.

Another thing one mother told me is that Dr. Singhania’s therapy involved trying to maker her hold her son down at the table while the doctor ‘taught.’ My own son was two and a half when he first started therapy, and even if he didn’t have autism, I still wouldn’t expect him to sit at a desk and pay attention, and if anyone asked me to hold him in place (kicking and screaming) so he could ‘learn’ as I payed 450 dirhams an hour, I’d ask them if they knew what they were doing.

I was also warned about seeing her by three other autism centers when I was searching for a place for my son. I did visit her, and asked her whether she had to prescribe drugs often, and she said yes, in most cases, she did. I didn’t go back to her again, since I was told it was dangerous as well as a waste of money and time. I never took my son to see her, but I have to wonder, if she’s as bad as the parents say, then why is she still allowed to practice? Is there no authority who looks into these things to protect our children?”

-Zeba Khan
Abu Dhabi