Signs of Child Neglect

Written by HealthyPlace.com Staff Writer

When the signs of child neglect below appear repeatedly or in combination, you should take a closer look at the situation and consider the possibility of child neglect and abuse.

A number of neglected children present as suffering from medical conditions, failure to thrive or malnutrition, which in severe forms may be life-threatening. More observable signs of child neglect include the following: dirty skin; offensive body odor; unwashed, uncombed hair; tattered, under or oversize and unclean clothing; clothing that is inappropriate to weather or situation; frequent lack of supervision.

Indications of Child Neglect

Consider the possibility of neglect when the child...

• is frequently absent from school
• begs or steals food or money

• advertisement

  lacks needed medical or dental care, immunizations or glasses
• is consistently dirty and has severe body odor
• lacks sufficient clothing for the weather
• abuses alcohol or abuses other drugs
• states that there is no one at home to provide care

Consider the possibility of neglect when the parent or other adult caregiver...

• appears to be indifferent to the child
• seems apathetic or depressed
• behaves irrationally or in a bizarre manner
• is abusing alcohol or other drugs
• Physical neglect includes the refusal of seeking necessary health care, child abandonment, inadequate supervision, rejection of a child leading to expulsion from the home and failing to provide for the child's safety as well as his or her physical and emotional needs. The child may rummage for or steal food.

Educational neglect occurs when a child is allowed to engage in chronic truancy, or is of mandatory school age but not receiving schooling.

Emotional neglect includes spousal abuse in the child's presence, allowing a child to use drugs or alcohol, refusal to provide needed psychological care and constant belittling of the child.

Medical neglect is the failure to provide for appropriate health care for a child. The child may exhibit signs of poor health, such as fatigue, infected cuts and constant itching or scratching of skin.

Sources:

• Administration for Children and Families
• National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information
• National Institutes of Health - National Library of Medicine
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect

next: Causes and Treatment of Child Neglect