Abuse: Warning Signs

Potential Indicators of Child Abuse and/or Neglect

Taken from http://www.michigan.gov/dhs/
Determining when to report suspected child abuse or neglect may be difficult. A bruise on a toddler's forehead may be the result of learning to walk or the result of abuse. Below are some of the commonly accepted physical and behavioral indicators of abuse and/or neglect. Please note that the physical and behavioral indicators listed are not the only indicators of child abuse and neglect and if present, do not always mean a child is being abused or neglected.

Physical Neglect - Physical Indicators

  • Unattended medical needs.
  • Lack of supervision.
  • Regular signs of hunger, inappropriate dress, poor hygiene.
  • Distended stomach, emaciated.
  • Significant weight change.

Physical Neglect - Behavioral Indicators

  • Regularly displays fatigue or listlessness, falls asleep in class.
  • Steals/hoards food, begs from classmates.
  • Reports that no caretaker is at home.
  • Frequently absent or tardy.
  • School dropout (adolescents).

Physical Abuse - Physical Indicators

  • Unexplained bruises (in various stages of healing), welts, loop marks.
  • Adult/human bite marks.
  • Bald spots or missing clumps of hair.
  • Unexplained burns/scalds.
  • Unexplained fractures, skin lacerations/punctures or abrasions.
  • Swollen lips/chipped teeth.
  • Linear/parallel marks on cheeks and temple area.
  • Crescent-shaped bruising.
  • Puncture wounds.
  • Bruising behind the ears.

Physical Abuse - Behavioral Indicators

  • Self-destructive/self-mutilation.
  • Withdrawn and/or aggressive-behavior extremes.
  • Uncomfortable/skittish with physical contact.
  • Arrives at school late or stays late as if afraid to be at home.
  • Chronic runaway (adolescents).
  • Complains of soreness or moves uncomfortably.
  • Wears clothing inappropriate to weather, to cover body.
  • Lack of impulse control (e.g. inappropriate outbursts).

Sexual Abuse - Physical indicators

  • Pain or itching in genital area.
  • Bruises or bleeding in genital area.
  • Venereal disease.
  • Frequent urinary or yeast infections.
  • Extreme or sudden weight change.
  • Pregnancy under 12 years of age.

Sexual Abuse - Behavioral Indicators

  • Withdrawal, chronic depression.
  • Sexual behaviors or references that are unusual for the child's age.
  • Seductive or promiscuous behavior.
  • Poor self-esteem, self-devaluation, lack of confidence.
  • Suicide attempts (especially adolescents).
  • Hysteria, lack of emotional control.
  • Habit Disorders (sucking, rocking).

Taken from http://www.michigan.gov/dhs/ December 17, 2007
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