PHYSICAL ABUSE
Physical Indicators
- Injuries that don’t fit the explanation
- Presence of several injuries that are at different stages
- Facial injuries in infants and preschool children
- Injuries don’t fit well with the child’s age and developmental stage
Behavioural Indicators
- Cannot recall how injuries occurred or offers an explanation that doesn’t fit
- Wary of adults
- May cringe or flinch if touched unexpectedly
- Infants may display a vacant stare
- Extremely aggressive or withdrawn
EMOTIONAL ABUSE
Physical Indicators
- Bed-wetting that is nonmedical
- Frequent psychosomatic complaints, headaches, nausea, abdominal pains
- Child fails to thrive
Behavioural Indicators
- Severe depression
- Extreme withdrawal or aggressiveness
- Overly compliant, too well-mannered, too neat or clean
- Extreme attention seeking
- Displays extreme inhibition in play
SEXUAL ABUSE
Physical Indicators
- Unusual or excessive itching or injuries in the genital or anal area
- Torn, stained, or bloody underwear
- Pregnancy
- Sexually transmitted disease
Behavioural Indicators
- Age-inappropriate play with toys, self, or others displaying explicit sexual acts
- Age-inappropriate sexually explicit drawing and/or descriptions
- Bizarre, sophisticated, or unusual sexual knowledge
- Seductive behaviour
NEGLECT
Physical Indicators
- Poor hygiene
- Unattended physical or medical needs (e.g. glasses, dental work)
- Consistent lack of supervision
Behavioural Indicators
- Pale, listless, unkempt
- Frequent absence from school
- Inappropriate clothing for the weather, dirty clothes
- Frequently does not bring a lunch
