Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect: Signs and Symptoms

FactSheet

June 2007

Disponible en español www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/ factsheets/sp_signs.cfm

The first step in helping abused or neglected What’s Inside: children is learning to recognize the signs of child abuse and neglect. The presence of a single • Recognizing child abuse sign does not prove child abuse is occurring in a • Types of abuse family, but a closer look at the situation may be • Signs of physical abuse warranted when these signs appear repeatedly or • Signs of neglect in combination. • Signs of sexual abuse If you do suspect a child is being harmed, reporting • Signs of emotional maltreatment your suspicions may protect the child and get

Child Welfare Information Gateway Children’s Bureau/ACYF U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW Administration for Children and Families Eighth Floor Washington, DC 20024 Administration on Children, Youth and Families 703.385.7565 or 800.394.3366 Children’s Bureau Email: [email protected] www.childwelfare.gov Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect: Signs and Symptoms www.childwelfare.gov

help for the family. Any concerned person • Lacks adult supervision can report suspicions of child abuse and • Is overly compliant, passive, or neglect. Some people (typically certain types withdrawn of professionals) are required by law to make a report of child maltreatment under • Comes to school or other activities early, specific circumstances—these are called stays late, and does not want to go home mandatory reporters. For more information, The Parent: see the Child Welfare Information Gateway publication, Mandatory Reporters of Child • Shows little concern for the child Abuse and Neglect: www.childwelfare.gov/ • Denies the existence of—or blames the systemwide/laws_policies/statutes/manda. child for—the child’s problems in school cfm or at home For more information about where and • Asks teachers or other caregivers to use how to file a report, contact your local harsh physical discipline if the child child protective services agency or police misbehaves department. An additional resource for information and referral is the • Sees the child as entirely bad, worthless, Childhelp® National Child Abuse Hotline or burdensome (800.4.A.CHILD). • Demands a level of physical or academic performance the child cannot achieve Recognizing Child Abuse • Looks primarily to the child for care, attention, and satisfaction of emotional needs The following signs may signal the presence of child abuse or neglect. The Parent and Child: The Child: • Rarely touch or look at each other • Shows sudden changes in behavior or • Consider their relationship entirely school performance negative • Has not received help for physical or • State that they do not like each other medical problems brought to the parents’ attention • Has learning problems (or difficulty Types of Abuse concentrating) that cannot be attributed to specific physical or The following are some signs often psychological causes associated with particular types of child abuse and neglect: physical abuse, neglect, • Is always watchful, as though preparing sexual abuse, and emotional abuse. It is for something bad to happen important to note, however, that these

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types of abuse are more typically found in combination than alone. A physically abused child, for example, is often Signs of Neglect emotionally abused as well, and a sexually abused child also may be neglected. Consider the possibility of neglect when the child: • Is frequently absent from school Signs of Physical Abuse • Begs or steals food or money

Consider the possibility of physical abuse • Lacks needed medical or dental care, when the child: immunizations, or glasses • Has unexplained burns, bites, bruises, • Is consistently dirty and has severe broken bones, or black eyes body odor • Has fading bruises or other marks • Lacks sufficient clothing for the weather noticeable after an absence from school • Abuses alcohol or other drugs • Seems frightened of the parents and • States that there is no one at home to protests or cries when it is time to provide care go home Consider the possibility of neglect when the • Shrinks at the approach of adults parent or other adult caregiver: • Reports injury by a parent or another • Appears to be indifferent to the child adult caregiver • Seems apathetic or depressed Consider the possibility of physical abuse when the parent or other adult caregiver: • Behaves irrationally or in a bizarre manner • Offers conflicting, unconvincing, or no explanation for the child’s injury • Is abusing alcohol or other drugs • Describes the child as “evil,” or in some other very negative way Signs of Sexual Abuse • Uses harsh physical discipline with the child Consider the possibility of sexual abuse • Has a history of abuse as a child when the child: • Has difficulty walking or sitting • Suddenly refuses to change for gym or to participate in physical activities • Reports nightmares or bedwetting

• Experiences a sudden change in appetite • Has attempted suicide • Demonstrates bizarre, sophisticated, or • Reports a lack of attachment to the parent unusual sexual knowledge or behavior Consider the possibility of emotional • Becomes pregnant or contracts a venereal maltreatment when the parent or other disease, particularly if under age 14 adult caregiver: • Runs away • Constantly blames, belittles, or berates the child • Reports sexual abuse by a parent or another adult caregiver • Is unconcerned about the child and refuses to consider offers of help for the Consider the possibility of sexual abuse child’s problems when the parent or other adult caregiver: • Overtly rejects the child • Is unduly protective of the child or severely limits the child’s contact with other children, especially of the Resources on the Child opposite sex Welfare Information Gateway Website • Is secretive and isolated • Is jealous or controlling with family Child Abuse and Neglect members www.childwelfare.gov/can/index.cfm Defining Child Abuse and Neglect www.childwelfare.gov/can/defining/ Signs of Emotional Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect Maltreatment www.childwelfare.gov/preventing/ Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect Consider the possibility of emotional www.childwelfare.gov/responding/ maltreatment when the child: reporting.cfm • Shows extremes in behavior, such as overly compliant or demanding behavior, This factsheet was adapted, with permission, extreme passivity, or aggression from Recognizing Child Abuse: What Parents • Is either inappropriately adult (parenting Should Know. Prevent Child Abuse America. other children, for example) or © 2003. inappropriately infantile (frequently rocking or head-banging, for example) • Is delayed in physical or emotional development

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway. Available online at www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/signs.cfm.