Signs Of Abuse

* inappropriate affect such as turning negatives into jokes, or laughing when in pain.

* extremes in behavior - overly happy or affectionate.

* withdrawal - or no verbal or physical communication with others.

* bizarre behavior such as self-destruction.

* destructive behavior.

* inordinate attention to details.

* cruelty, vandalism, stealing, cheating.

* rocking, thumbsucking, enuresis, or other habitual problems.

* substance abuse (drugs or alcohol).

* anorexia nervosa (especialy in adolescents).

* physical manifestations such as asthma, ulcers, or severe allergies.

* delinquent behavior (especially in adolescents).

* frequent urinary infections.

* an inordinate number of gifts, or money from a questionable source.

* exceptional secrecy.

* more sexual knowledge than is appropriate for the child’s age (especially younger children).

* in-depth sexual play with peers.

* overcompliance or withdrawal.

* overaggressiveness, acting out.

* sexually provocative or promiscuous behavior (in adolescents) or otherwise acting out sexually.

* an inordinate fear of males or seductiveness towards males.

* a drop in school performance or sudden nonparticipation in school activities.

* sleep problems such as nightmares or insomnia.

* crying without provocation.

* rashes or itching in genital areas, scratching the area a great deal or figeting when seated.

* sudden onset of enuresis (wetting pants or bed) or soiling.

* sudden phobic behavior.

* symptoms associated with venereal disease, such as - vaginal pain, vaginal or penile discharge (in young children), genital or oral sores, frequent sore throats (may indicate gonococcal infection of the pharynx or throat).

* diagnosis of genital warts.

* feelings of little self-worth, talk of being “damaged”.

* pain in genital area (which may be from lacerations).

* excessive bathing.

* frequent vomiting.

* excessive masturbation.

* appearing much older or more worldly than peers.

* great anxiety.

* suicide attempts (especialy among adolescents).

* runaway from home, excessively (especialy adolescents).

* early pregnancies (in adolescents).

*extensive bruises, especialy numerous bruises of different colors, indicating various stages of healing (strange bruises are always possible in normal activities; it is their frequency that arouses suspician of abuse) Ages of bruises can be approximately detected by the following colors:
Immediate-few hours = red 6-12 hours = blue 12-24 hours = black-purple 4-6 days = green tint, dark 5-10 days = pale green to yellow

*burns of all types (although burns may also be accidental), but especialy glove-like burns, which indicate that the hand has been immersed in hot liquid; burns that are more intense in the middle and radiate from there, which would indicate that hot liquid has been poured onto the skin; cigarette burns; burns in the shape of an object such as a poker , an iron.

*bruises in specific shapes such as handprints, hanger marks.

* frequent complaints of soreness or awkward movements, as if caused by pain.

* marks that indicate hard blows from an object such as an electrical cord or other whiplike object that could make a burn around the body.

* bruises on multiple parts of the body indicating blows from different directions.

* unexplained abdominal swelling (may be caused by internal bleeding)

* extreme sensitivity to pain.

* frequent bruises around the head or face (the area of other bruises may be important - knees and elbows , for example, are especialy vulnerable in normal falls; bruises to the abdomen or midway between the wrists and elbow may be more unlikely in normal activities).

* bald spots indicative of severe hair pulling.

* overcompliance.

* withdrawal, perpetual sleepiness.

* acting out, aggressive disruptive behavior.

* destructiveness to self and others.

* coming to school too early or leaving late - a clear indicator of fear of going home.

* cheating, stealing, or lying (this may be related to too high expectations at home).

* accident proneness.

* fearfulness (the child may assume that adults hurt and is constantly on guard).

* low achievement (in order to learn, children must convert aggressive energy into learning; children who are either overly aggressive or lacking in energy may have little or no energy for learning).

* inability to form good peer relationships (many abusive paretns prohibit their child from seeking out friends, perhaps because of fear of exposure).

* wearing clothing that covers the body and that may be inappropriate for warm months.

* dislike of or shrinking from physical contact (the child may not tolerate physical praise such as a pat on the back).

* regressiveness, exhibiting less mature behavior.

* overreact to being touched in any way (react with fear or aggression).

* seem to provoke encounters of abusive treatment from adults as well as from their peers.

* demonstrate extremes in behavior -either great hostility and aggressiveness or withdrawal.

* exhibit assaultive, aggressive, or pugnacious behavior.

* appear to be overly frightened from parents.

* act out continually or are described as incorrigible.

Physical neglect refers to the failure on the part of the caretaker to meet the child’s basic physical needs.

* often report caring for younger siblings, when the child caretaker may be only 5,6,7, or 8.

* demonstrate poor hygiene, may smell of urine, or have bad breath or dirty teeth.

* have unattended medical or dental problems such as infected sores or badly decayed or abscessed teeth.

* may have lice.

* may exhibit stealing, vandalism, or other delinquent behavior.

* may have frequent school absences or tardiness.

* have poor peer relationships, perhaps because of heygienic problems or a depressed, negative attitude.

* may be withdrawn.

* may crave affection, even eliciting negative responses to accomplish it.

* may be destructive or pugnacious, showing no apparent guilt over their acts.

* may be inadequately dressed for the weather.

* may be emaciated or may have distended stomachs indicative of malnutrition.

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