Q. I have a 15-year-old daughter. Since a very young age, she has had problems communicating with her classmates, making friends and getting along with people.

Is there a good psychiatric doctor we can talk to help her improve her social skills?

A. Given that this pattern has been present since your daughter was quite young, it is especially important to have a thorough assessment to understand why she experiences these difficulties.

A psychiatrist or development paediatrician can evaluate her for such possible diagnoses as social anxiety, depression, pragmatic language difficulties or broader social issues such as high functioning forms of autism.

What might seem like 'shyness' in a young child can appear much more significant in the teenage age group. Once a diagnosis is made, or her patterns better understood, then therapies can be initiated to improve her social thinking abilities and social skills.

There are a variety of private child psychiatrists or the Child Guidance Clinic at the Institute of Mental Health could assess your daughter and direct you to the possible intervention resources.

DR ROSEBETH MARCOU, DEVELOPMENTAL AND BEHAVIOURAL PAEDIATRICIAN, RAFFLES HOSPITAL