Coronation Street has confirmed that it will be exploring the issue of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a forthcoming storyline.
Kylie Platt's son Max (Harry McDermott) will be diagnosed with the condition in a future episode, sparking a new crisis for his concerned mother.
Coronation Street's Max and Kylie
© ITV
Coronation Street's Max and Kylie
Viewers have already seen hints of a change in Max's behaviour in recent episodes, but when the situation worsens over the coming weeks, Kylie and her husband David will finally realise that something is wrong.
In a further development, Kylie hits rock bottom following Max's diagnosis and later makes a terrible decision when she resorts to taking his medication herself - causing more problems in her marriage to David (Jack P Shepherd).
Coronation Street's producer Stuart Blackburn told the show's official website: "Over the weeks, we see a real change in Max's behaviour and what we are going to learn is that he is suffering from ADHD.
"We have done an awful lot of research on this and it is going to take us to a point where Max is going to be put on medication."
He added: "Kylie hits a really low point - physically and emotionally she is completely drained and in that moment of madness she takes some of Max's medication. She is utterly ashamed and David is disgusted when he finds out.
"This is, out of all the bad decisions Kylie has made, the worst one ever. It is going to have a devastating effect on her, her health and those around her and it is going to bring real trouble to the door of the Platts' household."
The news means that actress Paula Lane, who plays Kylie, gets another dramatic storyline in the build-up to her upcoming maternity leave.