Indicators of Child Abuse

1. Indicators of Child Abuse Physical, Sexual, Emotional, and Neglect

2. How do parents react to disabilities? • They try to deal with the “symbolic death syndrome,” and • They try to provide the necessary daily care

3. Hard facts about disabilities and families • Odds of divorce go up by two • Odds of child abuse go up by five

4. Unexplained bruises and welts on face, lips, or mouth on torso, back, buttocks, or thighs pattern/clusters In various stages of healing shaped like recognizable object (like a belt buckle) appear regularly after child is at home Physical abuse--physical symptoms

5. Unexplained burns by cigars, cigarettes, especially on soles, palms, back, or buttocks Immersion in hot liquid recognizable form like range coils by rope on arms, legs, neck, or torso Physical symptoms/physical 2

6. Physical Abuse-physical-3 of 4 • Unexplained fractures of skull, nose, or facial bones • in various stages of healing • in multiple locations

7. Physical/physical 4 • Unexplained lacerations or abrasions • on mouth, lips, gums, or eyes • on external genitalia

8. Physical abuse, behavioral indicators • Wary of adult contacts • Apprehensive when OTHER children cry • Extreme aggressiveness or extreme withdrawal • Fear of parents/fear of going home • Reports of injury by parents

9. Sexual Abuse • Hard fact--of children under age 18, three of four WILL EXPERIENCE some form of sexual abuse (not experimentation) by the time they are 18. Studies show it . . .

10. Difficulty in walking or sitting torn, stained, or bloody underclothes Pain or itching in genital area Bruises or bleeding in genital, vaginal, or anal areas Venereal disease Pregnancy Sexual abuse--physical indicators

11. Sexual abuse--behavioral • Unwillingness to change clothing or to participate in physical education classes • Bizarre, sophisticated, or unusual sexual behavior or knowledge • Reporting of sexual assaults

12. Emotional Abuse

13. Emotional abuse--physical symptoms • Speech disorders • Lag in physical development • Severe allergies, asthma, or ulcers • Alcohol or drug abuse

14. Emotional abuse--behavioral symptoms--1 • Habit disorders such as thumb sucking, lip biting, or rocking • Antisocial or destructive conduct • Psychoneurotic traits such as hysteria, obsessions, compulsions, phobias, hypochondria

15. Emotional abuse--behavioral (2) • Behavior extremes of compliance or aggression • Inappropriate adult or infantile behavior • Mental and emotional developmental lags • Suicide threats or attempts

16. Neglect

17. Consistent hunger Poor hygiene Inappropriate dress Unattended physical problems Unattended medical needs including dental Alcohol or drug abuse Neglect--physical

18. Neglect--behavioral indicators • Begging or stealing food • Early arrivals and late departures • Constant fatigue or listlessness • Chronic delinquency, especially thefts • Reporting of no caretaker at home

19. Mandatory reporting Each of the 50 states has a mandatory reporting for person such as teachers who may suspect abuse