Child Abuse Indicators

indications of abuse

Psychlogical/Emotional Maltreatment

Physical Indicators:

• Speech disorders
• Lags in physical development
• Failure to thrive
• Hyperactive/disruptive behavior
• Sallow, empty, facial appearance

Behavioral Indicators:

Habit disorders

• sucking
• biting
• rocking
• enuresis

Conduct/learning disorder

• Antisocial behavior
• Destructive

Neurotic traits

• Sleep disorders
• inhibition of play
• unusual fearfulness

Behavioral extremes

• Child does not change expression
• Compliant, passive
• Aggressive, demanding

Overly adaptive behavior

• inappropriately adult
• inappropriately infantile

Developmental lags

• mental
• emotional

Feels unloved and unwanted

• Makes derogatory remarks about self and own behavior (“I never do anything right.”)
• Is overly concerned about conforming to wishes or instructions of parents or other adults
• Makes socially inappropriate responses
• Is distrustful
• Feels deserving of maltreatment

Attempted suicide or suicidal thoughts

Caretaker's Attitude/Behavior:

• Blames, ridicules and/or denigrates child
• Is cold and rejecting; withholds love from child
• Does not show positive behaviors or attitude towards child
• Has inappropriate explanations for child’s behaviors
• Treats children in family unequally
• Is not interested in child’s problems, or minimizes them
• Abuses alcohol or drugs
• Describes being abused or neglected/maltreated as a child
• Unable to respond to child’s needs, or respond inappropriately
• Makes harsh and/or destructive responses to child’s requests
• Threatens or terrorizes child; uses threats of harsh or bizarre punishments
• Is unaware of child’s basic needs and views child as being able to get along on his/her own
• Perceives child as bad, demanding, evil, a problem, provocative, or burdensome
• Believes child entices own poor treatment
• Impulsive; has low self-esteem; may use projection and blame child for own problems
• Feels out of control; has little or no outside support
• May have marital problems, creates tense environment

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