Family GP, Dr Sue Morrison, explains the importance of having a hyperactive child with motor skill problems fully examined by a specialist child development team (CDT).

Raisingkids member's problem
My 5 yr-old is very hyperactive, and finds it extremely difficult to concentrate. Will he always have this small concentration span? Is there any advise you could give to me, that would help him? He also has problems with his fine and gross motor skills.... is there any therapy or help available for these problems?

Dr Morrison's advice
If hyperactivity exists alongside some motor difficulties it's especially important that a child is fully examined by a specialist child development team (CDT) which can include a variety of professionals, often a developmental paediatrician, a clinical psychologist, a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist, and speech and language therapist, for example.

There are many possibilities for causes of the symptoms and it's probably better to establish the nature and extent of all the difficulties before trying to plan a management programme. But there are lots of helpful approaches that can assist a child with such difficulties.

A referral to a CDT can come through a GP or Health Visitor, and is the best way to start. They may also then seek information from a school or nursery that also knows the child.

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