Recognizing Child Abuse

Physical Abuse

A non-accidental injury to a child by a parent or caretaker.

How do I recognize it?

  • Frequent and unexplained bruises, burns, cuts, injuries.
  • Bite marks.
  • Fractures in unusual places.
  • Discoloration of skin.
  • High incidence of accidents or frequent injuries.
  • Swellings to face and extremities.

Family or Parental Indicators

  • Parents were abused as children themselves, were raised in homes where excessive punishment was the norm, and use harsh discipline on own children.
  • History of alcohol or drug abuse.
  • Are easily upset, have a low tolerance for frustration.
  • Social isolation, no supporting network of relatives or friends.
  • See child as bad or evil.
  • Little or no interest in child's well-being.
  • Constantly criticize and have inappropriate expectations of child.
  • Take child to different physicians or hospitals for each injury.
  • Many personal and marital problems.
  • Economic stress.

Behavioral Indicators

  • Wary of contact with parents or other adults.
  • Reports injury by parents (sometimes blames self, e.g., “I was bad”).
  • Afraid to go home, repeated incidents of running away.
  • Self-injurious behaviors.
  • Low self-esteem.
  • Gives inconsistent versions about occurrence of injuries, burns, etc.
  • Often late or absent from school.
  • Overly compliant, withdrawn, gives in readily and allows others to do for him/her without protest.
  • Aggressiveness, withdrawal, or extreme mood changes.
  • Wears clothing to purposely conceal injury, i.e. long sleeves.
  • Comes early to school, seems reluctant to go home.
  • Complains of pain upon movement or contact.

 

Neglect

A parent or caretaker’s failure to give the child food, clothing, hygiene, medical care and supervision.

How do I recognize it?

  • Failure to thrive (physically or emotionally). Positive indicator of toxicology, esp. in newborns; drug withdrawal symptoms, etc.
  • Speech disorders.
  • Consistent lack of supervision, especially in dangerous activities or for long periods.
  • Unattended physical problems or medical needs.
  • Chronic truancy.
  • Consistent hunger, poor hygiene.
  • Inappropriate dress for the season.

Behavioral Indicators

  • Begging, stealing food.
  • Constant fatigue, listlessness, falling asleep in class.
  • Delinquency.
  • Extended stays at school.
  • States that there is no caretaker.

 

Emotional Maltreatment

Includes severe rejection, humiliation, and actions intended to produce fear or extreme guilt in a child.

How do I recognize it?

  • A parent verbally terrorizes the child, who continually and severely criticizes the child, or fails to express any affection.

Behavioral Indicators

  • Habit disorder (e.g. sucking, biting, rocking).
  • Conduct disorder (e.g. antisocial, destructive).
  • Neurotic traits (e.g. sleep disorders, inhibition of play).
  • Psychoneurotic reactions (e.g. hysteria, obsession).
  • Behavior extremes, compliant/passive aggressive.
  • Overly adaptive behavior, adult-like or infantile.

 

Sexual Abuse

Child sexual abuse is any forced or tricked sexual contact by an adult or older child with a child.  Usually the adult or older child is in a position of power or authority over the child.  Physical force is generally not used, since there is usually a trusting relationship between the adult or older child and the child who is abused.
Ranges from offenses such as promoting prostitution, to fondling, intercourse, or using the child for pornographic materials.

How do I recognize it?

  • Sexual behavior way beyond what is expected for the child’s age.
  • Sudden, unusual difficulty with toilet habits.
  • Pain, itching, bruises, bleeding in the genital area.
  • Venereal disease.
  • Pregnancy in (young) adolescents.

Behavioral Indicators

  • Withdrawal, fantasy or infantile behavior.
  • Bizarre, sophisticated or unusual sexual behavior.
  • Extreme fear of being touched.
  • Forcing sexual acts on other children.
  • Delinquent, runaway or truancy.
  • Reports sexual assault by caretaker.
  • Prostitution.
  • Self-injurious behaviors.
  • Suicide attempts.
  • Fear of a particular person, place or thing.
  • Poor relationship with peers.
  • Aggressive behavior towards younger children.
  • Eating disorders.