Child abuse occurs when a parent, family member or caretaker physically hurts a child or adolescent, makes that youth feel worthless, has sexual contact with him or her, or does not provide adequate food, care, or shelter. All forms of child abuse cause the victim pain and suffering. Child abuse happens in all types of families, and in most cases, the abuser is related to the victim. Young people often blame themselves for the family crisis brought on by abuse, but it is not their fault. Every state has laws against child abuse.
It is important to tell someone who can help you decide if there is abuse in your family. If you tell someone that does not believe or help you, tell someone else until someone listens.
Includes any non-accidental physical injury caused by the child's caretaker. Physical abuse may result from severe corporal punishment or from punishment which is inappropriate to the child's age or condition.
Physical Indicators
1. Unexplained bruises and welts (other than the common scrapes on elbows, knees, shins, etc.):
on face, lips, mouth, torso, back, buttocks, thighs -- in various stages of healing.
clustered, forming regular patterns
reflecting shape of article used to inflict injury (electric cord, belt buckle, wooden spoon)
on several different surface areas.
Bite marks, especially in multiples and in various stages of healing. Injuries appearing after absence, weekend or vacation.
2. Unexplained burns:
cigar or cigarette burns, especially on soles, palms, back or buttocks
immersion burns (sock-like, glove-like, doughnut shaped) on buttocks or genitals.
3. Unexplained fractures:
to skull, nose, facial structure
in various stages of healing
multiple long bone or spiral fractures
injuries to growth centers in bone structure.
4. Unexplained lacerations or abrasions:
to mouth, lips, gums, soft palate, eyes
to external genitals
to limbs, back, chest, abdomen
ruptured frenulum
5. Hemorrhages:
retinal
beneath scalp due to hair pulling/absence of hair.
6. Dental/Oral injuries:
torn labial/lingual frenulum
fractured or missing teeth without adequate explanation
Role reversal - child seems to parent the parent; child acts inappropriately adult-like and responsible.
Developmental lags - may fall behind in toilet training, motor skills, socialization, language development.
Appears frightened of caretaker.
Wears long sleeved shirts in hot weather (to cover bruises).
Cringes or jumps at a sudden movement.
Verbally reports abuse.
School absenteeism.
Behavioral Indicators in Caretaker
Uses harsh discipline which is inappropriate to child's age, behavior, and/or condition.
Describes the child in a consistently negative manner (bad, stupid, evil, ugly, etc.)
Gives explanations of the child's injuries that do not make sense given the child's age, developmental stage, type or extent of injuries.
Becomes defensive or refuses to explain when questioned about the child's injury.
Attempts to conceal the child's injury.
Misuses drugs or alcohol.
Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy - describes the actions of an adult caretaker, usually the mother, which cause the child to appear to be ill and result in extensive medical care, including hospitalization or surgery for the child. Examples are the elaborate description of violent seizures in the child, the deliberate warming of a thermometer to mimic high fever in the child, inducing vomiting or diarrhea, or putting blood in the child's urine or stool sample. Once the child is hospitalized, the adult may introduce fecal material or other foreign substances into the child's IV actualizing the child's fabricated symptoms. Some caretakers also suffocate the child, then call for someone to revive the child or do it themselves. The perpetrator of this abuse is usually one who has sophisticated knowledge of medical systems, appears to be a dedicated, attentive parent, but uses the attention paid by the medical staff to gratify personal unmet needs. Children abused through Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy can have long term physical and psychological effects from unnecessary medical procedures. Death of the child, although usually not deliberate, is not uncommon.
NEGLECT
Neglect involves inattention to the basic needs of a child, such as food, clothing, shelter, medical care, and supervision.
Physical Indicators
1. Lack of supervision:
· flat, bald spot on the back of an infant's head · very young children left unattended · children inadequately supervised over long periods of time or when engaged in dangerous activities · children left in the care of children too young to protect them · abandonment.
2. Lack of adequate clothing and good hygiene:
· children dressed inappropriately for the weather · consistently wearing torn and dirty clothing · severe diaper rash or other persistent skin disorders resulting from poor hygiene · children chronically dirty and unbathed.
3. Lack of medical or dental care:
· children whose needs for medical or dental care or medication and health aids are unmet · lice, rat or roach bites.
4. Lack of adequate nutrition:
· children lacking sufficient quantity or quality of food · children who fall three or four standard deviations below normal height or weight for age, with no physiological explanation.
Behavioral Indicators in Children
Begging, stealing food, consistently complaining of hunger.
Developmental lags.
Constant fatigue, listlessness.
Apathetic, depressed.
Infant - affective withdrawal from interpersonal interactions, non-responsive.
Delinquency (i.e. theft, vandalism, etc.)
Reports of being left alone, abandoned.
Frequent absences from school.
Behavioral Indicators in Caretaker
Misuses alcohol or other drugs.
Maintains chaotic home life.
Shows evidence of apathy or futility.
Expects child to care for him/herself at an early age.
EMOTIONAL ABUSE
Emotional Neglect - A chronic failure by the caretaker to provide the child with the support and affection necessary to the development of a sound and healthy personality.
Emotional Abuse - A chronic attitude or acts of a caretaker which are detrimental to the child's development of a sound and healthy personality.
Elimination problems - extreme constipation, constant vomiting or diarrhea.
Speech disorders, stuttering.
Behavioral Indicators in Children
Habit disorders such as biting, rocking, head-banging, or thumb-sucking in an older child.
Daytime anxiety and unrealistic fears.
Withdrawal and anti-social behaviors.
Poor relationships with children of own age.
Defiant behavior.
Behavioral extremes - aggressive or passive, inappropriately adult-like or infantile, rigid or overly impulsive behavior.
Lack of creativity and healthy exploration - seems not to know how to play.
Apathetic - seems indifferent and listless.
Daydreaming frequently, over-fantasizes, seems removed from reality.
Irrational and persistent fears, dreads, or hatreds.
Sleep problems, nightmares.
Appearing to get pleasure from hurting other children, adults or animals, appearing to get pleasure from being mistreated.
Developmental lags.
Suicide attempts.
Behavioral Indicators in Caretaker
1. Rejecting: -belittling the child so he is made to feel he can do nothing right - criticizing the child harshly - treating the child coldly, not showing affection - treating the child differently from other children in the household.
2. Ignoring: - taking little or no interest in the child, or his/her activities and seeming not to care about the child's problems.
3. Terrorizing: - blaming the child for things over which he/she has no control - using the child as a scapegoat when things go wrong - ridiculing and shaming the child - threatening the child's safety and health - destroying the child's possessions.
4. Isolating: -cutting the child off from normal social experiences - attempting to prevent the child from forming friendships and attachments.
5. Corrupting: -teaching the child socially deviant patterns of behavior (demanding and/or rewarding aggression, stealing, or other delinquent acts, or sexually precocious behavior) - allowing or encouraging substance abuse.
Child abuse occurs when a parent, family member or caretaker physically hurts a child or adolescent, makes that youth feel worthless, has sexual contact with him or her, or does not provide adequate food, care, or shelter. All forms of child abuse cause the victim pain and suffering. Child abuse happens in all types of families, and in most cases, the abuser is related to the victim. Young people often blame themselves for the family crisis brought on by abuse, but it is not their fault. Every state has laws against child abuse.