Indicators of Abuse

Indicators of physical abuse:

• Bruises, burns, sprains, dislocations, bite marks, cuts, welts, scratches
• Fractured bones
• Poisoning
• Internal injuries
• Shaking injuries
• Strangulation marks
• Ingestion of alcohol & drugs
• Dislocations
• Head injuries

Indicators of emotional abuse:

Emotional abuse/psychological abuse may cause delays in physical, emotional or cognitive development. For example:

• Delays in physical development
• Failure to thrive
• Speech disorders

Indicators of neglect:

When a child has been neglected, you may notice that they:

• Suffer from frequent hunger or malnutrition
• Have poor hygiene
• Wear inappropriate clothing
• Remain unsupervised for long periods of time
• Lack proper medical attention
• Experience abandonment by parents/carers
• Fail to thrive

Indicators of sexual abuse:

Many of the physical indicators of sexual abuse are only identifiable via a medical examination. For example:

• Sexually transmitted diseases
• Semen in the vagina
• Vaginal or anal injury or scarring
• Injury to the penis or scrotum
• Abrasions/tears and
• Bruises to the vagina or anus
• Chronic urinary tract infections or difficulty urinating
• Bleeding from the anus or vagina

Often the first indication the child gives is when they tell a person whom they trust that they have been sexually abused. 

Physical Abuse

• Expressing little or no emotion when hurt
• Offering unlikely explanations for injuries
• Wearing long-sleeved clothes on hot days (possibly to hide bruising or other injuries marking the body)
• Demonstrating fear of particular care givers, other adults or children
• Demonstrating a fear of their parents or a fear of going home
• Being fearful when other children cry or shout
• Being excessively friendly to strangers
• Being passive and compliant
• Being nervous, hyperactive, aggressive, disruptive

Emotional Abuse

• Stealing food
• Staying at school or other activities outside hours and not wanting to go home
• Lacks trust in other people
• Reluctance to attend an activity at a particular club or organisation
• Tired, lethargic, falling asleep at inappropriate times
• Abuse of alcohol or drugs
• Aggressive behaviour
• Poor peer relationships
• Indiscriminate with affection
• Lack of social skills
• Distress, e.g. frequent crying or apathy
• Demonstrating fear, of parent, caregiver or other adult
• Attention or risk taking behaviour

Neglect

• Stealing food or clothing
• Spending time at school or other external activities beyond the usual hours
• Reluctance to attend an activity at a particular club or organisation
• Tired or falling asleep at inappropriate times
• Abuse of alcohol or drugs
• Aggressive behaviour
• Poor peer relationships
• Indiscriminate with affection
• Desire for adult affection
• Poor emotional response / lack of expression or enthusiasm
• Anxiety about being left
• Frequent rocking and sucking behaviour

Sexual Abuse

• Persistent and age-inappropriate sexual activity
• Sexual aggression towards younger or more naive children
• Sexual invitations or gestures to older people
• Sexual interaction involving animals or toys
• Sexual promiscuity or prostitution
• Regressive behaviour, such as bedwetting and speech loss
• Challenging and aggressive behaviour
• Fear of people of a particular type or gender
• Suicidal and self-harm behaviour including self-mutilation, drug or alcohol abuse
• Risk taking behaviour such as lighting fires
• Cruelty to animals
• Criminal activity
• Frequent rocking, sucking and biting behaviour

Module 3 Summary:

• Child abuse takes many forms.
• Defining child abuse can help you share a common understanding of what behaviour constitutes child abuse and can therefore help them act to prevent it occurring or to stop it when it occurs.
• There are four broad types of child abuse: physical abuse, emotional/psychological abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect. Witnessing violence, bullying, sibling abuse and peer abuse are generally included within these types but are sometimes considered as distinct types. 
• Child abuse can have devastating long term consequences for children.
• Sometimes a child cannot tell us that they are experiencing abuse but there may be indicators or warning signs that a child or young person may be experiencing abuse.