Signs & Symptoms

Signs of Physical Abuse

• • Injury to a child who isn’t crawling yet
  • Visible and severe injuries
  • Injuries at different stages of healing on different surfaces of the body
  • Any injury (Ie… bruise, burn, fracture, abdominal or head injury) that cannot be explained, or that doesn’t match up with the explanation given
  • Distinctive shapes of bruising and injuries
  • Frequent injuries after weekends, vacations, school absences
  • Aggression toward other children or animals
  • Seems afraid of parents or other adults
  • Fear, withdrawal, depression, anxiety
  • Is dressed inappropriately to hide bruises or other injuries
  • Violent themes in fantasy, art, etc…
  • Nightmares, insomnia
  • Reports of injury or severe discipline
  • Immaturity, acting out, emotional and behavior extremes such as overly aggressive or extremely withdrawn
  • Self-destructive behavior or attitudes
  • Cannot recall how the injuries occurred or give inconsistent explanations

Signs of Emotional Abuse

• • Delayed or inappropriate emotional development
  • Learning disabilities
  • Speech disorders
  • Habits like sucking, biting, rocking
  • Bed-wetting or bed soiling that has no medical cause
  • Loss of self-confidence or self-esteem
  • Headaches or stomachaches with no medical cause
  • Health problems like ulcers, skin disorders
  • Poor school performance or a sudden loss of interest in school
  • Desperately seeks affection
  • Dressed differently from other children in the family
  • Has deprived physical living conditions compared with other children in the family
  • May avoid certain situations or people
  • Overly compliant or defensive, too well-mannered; too neat and clean
  • Severe symptoms of depression, withdrawal or aggression
  • Anxieties, phobias, sleep disorders
  • Behavior that is inappropriate for the child’s age (too adult, too infantile)
  • Abnormal fears, increased nightmares, or attempts to run away
  • Destructive or anti-social behaviors (violence, cruelty, vandalism, stealing, cheating, lying)
  • When at play, behaviour may model or copy negative behaviour and language used at home
  • Severe symptoms of self-destructive behaviour – self-harming, suicide attempts, engaging in drug or alcohol abuse   

Signs of Sexual Abuse

• • Sexual behavior or knowledge that’s inappropriate for the child’s age
  • Abdominal pain
  • Bed-wetting
  • Genital pain, bleeding, bruises, swelling, itching of genital area or blood in the child’s underwear
  • Difficulty sitting, walking, bowel problems
  • Frequent urinary tract infections or yeast infections
  • Inappropriate sexual contact with other children
  • Age-inappropriate sexual play with toys, self, others
  • Comments such as “I’ve got a secret”, or “I don’t like uncle”
  • Fire lighting by boys
  • Withdrawn, depressed, anxious
  • Eating disorders, preoccupation with body
  • Aggression, poor peer relationships, delinquency
  • Poor self-image, poor self-care, lack of confidence
  • Sudden absenteeism, decline in school performance
  • Tries to make self as unattractive as possible
  • Sleep disturbance, fear of bedtime, nightmares
  • Substance abuse, running away, recklessness, suicide attempts
  • Unusual or repetitive soothing behaviors (hand-washing, pacing, rocking, etc.)
  • Pregnancy or a sexually transmitted infection/disease

Signs of Neglect

• • Poor hygiene
  • Very low body weight, height for age
  • May show signs of malnutrition (like distended belly, protruding bones)
  • Often tired, sleepy, listless
  • Lack of clothing or supplies to meet physical needs
  • Clothing that is the wrong size, in disrepair, dirty, or not right for the weather
  • Voracious appetite or hiding food for later
  • May steal food, money, or other necessary items
  • Poor school attendance or school performance
  • Inadequately supervised or left alone for unacceptable periods of time
  • May have severe nappy rash or other persistent skin disorders or rashes resulting from improper care or lack of hygiene
  • Demonstrates severe lack of attachment to other adults
  • Lack of appropriate attention for medical, dental, or psychological problems or lack of  necessary follow-up care
  • Poor social skills
  • Talks about caring for younger siblings, not having a caregiver at home

Parental Behavior

Sometimes a parent’s demeanor or behavior sends red flags about child abuse. Warning signs include a parent who:

• • Shows little concern for the child
  • Appears unable to recognize physical or emotional distress in the child
  • Blames the child for the problems
  • Consistently belittles or berates the child, and describes the child with negative terms, such as “worthless” or “evil”
  • Expects the child to provide him or her with attention and care and seems jealous of other family members getting attention from the child
  • Uses harsh physical discipline
  • Demands an inappropriate level of physical or academic performance
  • Severely limits the child’s contact with others