Signs of Emotional Abuse
- Behavioral change tends to reflect the anxiety that results from a stressful situation of any type
- Depression
- Apathy
- Lack of Concentration
- Reports a Lack of attachment to the parent
- Excessively withdrawn, fearful, or anxious about doing something wrong
- Acts either inappropriately adult (taking care of other children) or inappropriately infantile (rocking, thumb-sucking, tantruming)
- Extremely passive or aggressive behavior
Signs of Physical Abuse
- Unexplainable changes in the child’s body or behavior
- Any injury (bruise, burn, fracture, abdominal or head injury) that cannot be explained
- Is always watchful and “on alert,” as if waiting for something bad to happen
- Shies away from touch, flinches at sudden movements, or seems afraid to go home
- Appears to be afraid of adults
- Wears inappropriate clothing to cover up injuries, i.e. long-sleeved shirts on hot days
- School failure
- Headaches or stomachaches with no medical cause
Signs of Sexual Abuse
- Extreme sexual behavior that seems inappropriate for the child’s age
- Genital pain or bleeding, as well as a sexually transmitted disease
- Doesn’t want to change clothes in front of others or participate in physical activities
- Runs away from home
- Has trouble walking or sitting
- Nightmares or bedwetting
- Has a sudden change in appetite
- Fear of a particular person or family member
Signs of Neglect
- Frequently absent from school
- Steals food or money
- Consistently poor hygiene
- Lacks the appropriate clothing for weather
- Is frequently unsupervised, left alone, or allowed to play in unsafe situations and environments
- Lacks needed medical or dental care
