How do I recognize abuse?
Child abuse cuts across all social classes and ethnicities and can occur in many different ways. There are four major types of child abuse: physical abuse, neglect, emotional abuse and sexual abuse. The first step in helping a neglected or abused child is to identify the signs and symptoms of abuse.
Warning Signs
Physical Abuse
- Bruises, burn, abrasions, laceration, or swelling caused by other than accidental means
- Belt buckle marks, handprints, bite marks, and pinches
- Child states injury was caused by abuse
- Injury unusual for a specific age group
- A history of previous or recurrent injuries
- Unexplained injuries; conflicting explanations or reasons for the injury
- Child excessively passive, compliant or fearful
- Caretaker attempts to hide injuries
Neglect
- Child is lacking adequate medical or dental care
- Child is always sleepy and/or hungry
- Child is always dirty or inadequately dressed for weather conditions
- There is evidence of poor supervision
- Conditions in the home are extremely or persistently unsafe or unsanitary
Emotional Abuse
- Child exhibits extremes in behavior from overly agressive to overly passive
- Child displays delayed physical, emotional, or intellectual development
- Caretaker constantly criticizes, threatens, belittles or rejects child with no evidence of love or support
Sexual Abuse
- Pain, bleeding, redness, or selling in anal or genital area
- Age-inappropriate sexual play with toys, self, or others
- Age-inappropriate knowledge of sex