Child Abuse Flashcards
1
Q
Child Abuse
A
inflicts or allows abuse, allows risk of physical injury, commits or allows sexual abuse or offense
2
Q
Child Maltreatment/Neglect
A
a maltreated child is a child under 18 yr of age whose physical, mental or emotional condition has been impaired or is in danger of becoming impaired as a result of the failure of the caretaker to exercise a minimum degree of care
3
Q
Characteristics of abusive caregivers
A
- Often suffered from abuse, neglect or severe discipline as a child
- Isolated from friends, family & neighbors
- Have unmet dependency needs
- May have substance abuse problems/chronic illness/low IQ
- Have high expectations of other people’s behavior
- May be hostile and blame others for their problems
- Impulsive and immature with low self-esteem
- Are generally law abiding and only a danger to family
- Are extreme disciplinarians who believe in physical punishment
- Poor parenting skills with high expectations of child
- Use threats or intimidation to control the victim
- May state “no hope” that child will behave
- See child as bad, evil, friend of the devil
- Home environment is chaotic, no routine
- Exposes child to unsafe living conditions
- Concerned about child’s gender or performance before birth
- May have had pregnancy or labor/delivery difficulties
4
Q
Parental Behavior Indicators
A
- Inappropriate response of caregiver, such as an overly protective/domineering or absent emotional response; refusal to sign for additional tests or adamantly insist on necessary treatment
- Parents cannot be found
- Injuries with no report of trauma
- Delay in seeking treatment for a significant injury
- Parent attempts to conceal full extent of injury
- Changes in the child’s or adult’s story of what
happened
- Histories that are inconsistent with severity of trauma
- Unusual injuries for a child of that particular age or
level of development.
- Parents treat children differently
- Parent demonstrates inconsistent behavior toward child
5
Q
Child’s Behavior Indicators
A
- Behavioral Extremes: aggressiveness, withdrawal, passivity, regressiveness
- Little or no response to pain/Lack of separation anxiety
- Disorganized thinking; self-injurious or suicidal behavior
- Fear of parent or caretaker
- Fear of going home
- Apprehension when other children cry
- Verbal reporting of abuse
- Extreme hyperactivity, irritability and distractibility
- Seeks affection from any adult
- Wearing clothing that covers the body that may be inappropriate for warm weather
- Running away from home or engaging in illegal behavior such as drug abuse or stealing
- Displaying severe depression
- Cheating, lying or poor achievement in school
- Inability to form satisfactory peer relationships
6
Q
Child’s physical indicators of sexual abuse
A
- Torn, stained or bloody underclothing
- Frequent urinary tract infections
- Any STD of the throat/mouth
- Difficulty or pain in walking or sitting
- Foreign matter in the bladder, rectum or vagina
- Rashes or itching of the genital area; scratching the area a great deal or fidgeting when seated
- Bruises or pain in the genital area
- Genital or rectal bleeding; vaginal discharge
- Pregnancy, especially in early adolescent years
- Sleep problems, nightmares
7
Q
Child’s behavioral indicators of sexual abuse
A
- Seductive behavior, advanced sexual knowledge for the child’s age, promiscuity, prostitution
- Expressing fear of a particular person or place
- Compulsive masturbation, precocious sex play, excessive curiosity about sex
- Withdrawal, fantasy or infantile behavior
- Sexually abusing another child
- Appearance of an inordinate number of gifts or money from a questionable source
- Drop in school performance or sudden non-participation in school activities/truancy/delinquency
- Self-injurious behavior
- Poor peer relationships
- Reports sexual assault by caretaker
- Exaggerated aversion to closeness or physical contact
- Sudden onset of enuresis
- Excessive anxiety
- Expression of low self-worth; verbalizations of being “damaged”
- Excessive bathing
- Suicide attempts
8
Q
Child’s physical indicators to emotional/psychological abuse
A
- Conduct disorders are more frequent
- Habit disorders (rocking, biting, sucking fingers)
- Neurotic disorders (speech, inhibition of play)
- Psychoneurotic reactions (phobias, compulsions)
- Lags in physical development
- Failure to thrive
9
Q
Child’s behavioral indications of emotional/psychological abuse
A
- Age inappropriate behaviors (older or younger)
- Developmental delays (emotional/psychological)
- Behavioral extremes (compliant, passive, aggressive, demanding)
- Anorexia Nervosa (especially in adolescents)
- Social Isolation
10
Q
Child’s physical indicators of neglect
A
- Inappropriate or soiled clothing
- Consistent hunger
- Poor hygiene, bad breath, body odor
- Unattended physical problems
- Medical/Dental problems
- Abandonment
11
Q
Child’s behavioral indicators of neglect
A
- Begging for or stealing food
- Signs of malnutrition
- Long stays at school
- Truancy
- Constant fatigue
- Alcohol or drug abuse
- States there is no caretaker
12
Q
TNI Child Abuse
A
- Conduct a physical exam
- Interview the child
- Interview parent or caretaker
- Observe the child’s interactions with parents and other adults
- Ensure the child’s safety and well-being. Try to establish some trust
- Facilitate the child’s ability to talk and think about the abuse with decreasing anxiety. Make it clear to the child that you understand that talking about the abuse is difficult.
- Create a safe and predictable environment in which the child feels supported.
- Provide a private place and time to talk.
- DO NOT PROMISE NOT TO TELL.
- Do not express shock or criticize their family
- Use their vocabulary to discuss body parts
- Avoid using any leading statements that can distort their report
- Reassure them that they have done the right thing by telling
- Tell them that the abuse is not their fault, that they are not bad or to blame
- Let the child know what is likely to happen when you report the abuse
- Plan interventions that will encourage affective release in a supportive environment. Child victims must be able to experience a range of emotions.
13
Q
Play Therapy
A
helps children play out traumatic themes, fears and distorted beliefs. It is a non-threatening way to process thoughts and feelings associated with the abuse both symbolically and directly.
14
Q
Art Therapy
A
provides an opportunity to express feelings for which there are no words
15
Q
Therapeutic Stories
A
present the traumatic issue of abuse, link victim’s feelings and behaviors and describe new coping methods to children.
