Signs of Child Abuse

There are several clues to look for when considering the possibility of child abuse. One sign alone may not necessarily indicate abuse, but here are symptoms to consider:

• The child is habitually away from school and/or consistently late.
• Arrives at school very early and leaves very late because she/he doesn't want to go home.
• Is compliant, shy, withdrawn, passive, and un-communicative (having internalized his/her problems of dealing with adults).
• Is nervous, afraid, aggressive, disruptive, or destructive (acting out his/her hurt to seek cure attention).
• Has an unexplained injury (afraid to show injury), burn, limp, or bruises on arms and/or legs over a long period of time.
• Exhibits an injury that is not adequately explained.
• Complains about numerous beatings (other adults wont listen).
• Goes to bathroom with difficulty.
• Inadequately dressed for inclement weather, or wears long-sleeved shirts or blouses during hot summer months to cover bruises on arms.
• Is thin, emaciated, constantly tired, or showing evidence of malnutrition and dehydration.
• Is unusually fearful of other children and adults.

One should also suspect abuse if the parent(s):

• Show little concern for their child's problems.
• Do not respond to teachers' inquiries and/or are never present for teachers' visits or for parents' nights.
• Take an unusual amount of time to seek health care for the child, afraid to take child to see doctor.
• Do not adequately explain an injury.
• Continue to complain about irrelevant problems unrelated to an injury.
• Suggest that the cause of an injury can be attributed to a third party.
• Are reluctant to share information about the child.
• Are using alcohol or drugs.
• Are very strict disciplinarians.
• Were themselves abused, neglected, or deprived as children.
• Have taken the child to different doctors, clinics or hospitals for past injuries.
• Show signs of loss of control or a fear of losing control.

Other things to consider:

An estimate of 20 to 30 percent of the parents who are abusive to their children are psychotic or otherwise seriously mentally ill. Psychotic parents need to be identified so that appropriate therapy can be used.

Child abuse indicates that there may be an immediate threat of death or some kind of serious injury. Any kind of abuse is an intentional, non-accidental use of force to hurt, injure the child. The abuser need not intend to injure a child in order to abuse a child.

People who abuse their children are not monsters. However, the abuser can be an ordinary person caught up in a complex life that is beyond their control.

The abuser may also have feelings of anger and hurt from their childhood life. Their parents probably did not provide them with a good parental role model.

Child abuse is a "learned" behavior. What a child learns, he or she repeats when they become adults. If a child is raised in an abusive family environment, he is likely to recreate that abusive environment with his children when he becomes a parent.

Most abuse may occur from birth through adolescence. The first few years are dangerous because the parents have little access to society for health care and are most likely keep the child away from the outside society.

If a child has been raised in an abusive environment, he or she is suspicious of adults and doesn't have any trust in them. To the abused children the adults are seen as cruel and hurtful people. The children have been offered no help, comfort, or happiness in the past. The child will not ask for help in the future when the child gets older. If the child does not get any help at a young age, he or she won't expect help when older.

Many adults will not help or report any abuse to the appropriate state authorities whose responsibility it is to investigate.

Abusive parents are often isolated individuals who have not learned to bail out or to get help. The abuser is fearful of being rejected, criticized, or hurt. Sometimes the abusive parents see themselves as worthless and feel that they are unable to fulfill the expectations that others have for them. There may be a factor of a shallow relationship between husband and wife or boyfriend and girlfriend. The two people are sometimes held together more out of fear or need, rather than love and happiness.

Thanks to the Ronald McDonald House charities for this information.

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