Child Abuse Indicators - Things to Watch For

> Sexual Abuse

Child's Behavior :

• Sexual Acting Out
• Angry, Hostile, Aggressive
• Change in Behavior (outgoing becomes withdrawn)
• Nightmares, bedwetting, fear of the dark
• Reluctance or fear of a person or of certain places
• Change in school grades, or attention span
• Advance knowledge and or interest in sexual acts or terminology
• Regression to babyish habits

Physical Signs :

• The most difficult type of abuse to detect because there are no outward signs
• Irritated or reddened genitals
• Unusual smell or discharge from genitals

Offender's Behavior :

• Extreme over protectiveness toward child
• Extreme paternal dominance in home
• Socially isolated
• Sexually abused as a child
• Interchange of mother and daughter roles
• See child as seductive
• Refer to children in a sexual manner
• Use gifts and favors as a way to relate with children
• Invite children over to their home
  

> Physical Abuse

Child's Behavior :

• Wary of Physical Contact with Adults
• Wears Long Sleeves or other concealing clothing (usually to hide injuries)
• Child's story of how injury occurred is not believable
• Shows little of no distress in being separated from parents
• Apt to seek affection from any adult
• Constantly on alert for danger, chronically suspicious

Physical Signs :

• Unusual bruises on places not common with childhood injuries
• Bite Marks
• Unexplained burns
• Unexplained fractures

Offender's Behavior :

• History of abuse as a child
• Unrealistic expectations of child
• Uses harsh discipline that isn't age, condition or offense appropriate
• Seems unconcerned about child
• Emphasizes bad qualities instead of good qualities of child
• Misuses drugs or alcohol
• Seldom looking at or touching child
• Showing no concern about the injury, treatment or prognosis