Child abuse and disability issues

Question 1

What is ADHD?

Answer 1

Attention deficient hyperactivity disorder.

• Persistent pattern of inattention and or hyperactivity that interferes with functioning for everyday life.
• Must have been going on for 6months and to be apparent before the age of 12 to be diagnosed.
• Must be apparent in two different environments e.g. Home and school.

Question 2

Define Inattention.

Answer 2

• Lack of attention to details, makes careless mistakes.
• Difficulty sustaining attention.
• Does not listen when spoken to directly.
• Trouble completing or finishing tasks.
• Problems organising tasks and activities.
• Easily distracted.

ETC

Question 3

Define Hyperactivity.

Answer 3

• Fidgetiness (hands or feet) or squirming in seat.
• Restless or overactive.
• Difficulty engaging on leisure activities.
• Interrupts or intrudes on others when they’re working or busy.

Question 4

What is ASD?

Answer 4

• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction.
• Some people may be hyper intelligent or the complete opposite large spectrum. (some will need constant care others will be fine)

Question 5

What are some of the cognitive issues a person with ASD may face?

Answer 5

• Problems recognising others mental states.
• Detailed-focused cognitive style and weak central coherence.
• Superior detail processing bias and some special talents.
• Executive function deficits (struggles with everyday life).
• Anxiety and depression are common.
• Neurotypicals need to increase empathy, acceptance and respect for difference.

Question 6

List some NSPCC signs to be concerned about.

In terms of child abuse

Answer 6

• Unexplained changed in behaviour or personality.
• Becoming withdrawn.
• Seeming anxious.
• Becoming uncharacteristically aggressive.
• Lack of social skills and has few friends, if any.
• Poor relationship/bond with parents.
• Knowledge of adult issues inappropriate for their age.
• Running away or going missing.
• Always choosing to wear clothes that cover their body.
• Unexplained injuries or where story doesn’t match.
• ! these signs don’t necessarily mean abuse, could be other things affecting their behaviour

Question 7

What is the NSPCC definitions of neglect?

Answer 7

• Physical neglect
• Educational neglect
• Emotional neglect
• Medical neglect.

Question 8

What is Physical abuse?

Answer 8

• Wilful acts of adults that result in harm to a child.

- Includes inflicting injury on child by actions not intended to harm them.

Question 9

What are the 7 types of psychological maltreatment?

according to Brassard and Gelardo 1987

Answer 9

• Rejecting
• Degrading
• Terrorising
• Isolating
• Corrupting
• Exploiting
• Denying emotional responsiveness

Question 10

Define sexual abuse.

Answer 10

• Use of child for adult sexual gratification - should exclude
consensual sexual exploration with peers

• May vary in intrusiveness - from viewing or exposure to
penetration

• Most common form – intrafamilial sexual abuse e.g. father-daughter incest

• Extrafamilial sexual abuse – abuser resides outside family
home

Question 11

What are the 3 core issues for particular vulnerability of disabled children to abuse?

Answer 11

• Dependency
• Institutional care
• Communication

Question 12

What should you do if a child discloses abuse?

Answer 12

• Take what they say seriously.
• React calmly, listen and keep questions to a minimum.
• Tell them they’re not to blame.
• Explain what will happen next.
• Check your understanding of what happened with the child
• Never ask leading Qs, or make assumptions.
• Use the words the child uses (body parts).
• Make a note of the discussion, record timings etc…

Question 13

What are some of the treatment approaches to child abuse?

Answer 13

• Family therapy, systemic
• Group therapy
• Individual and play therapy
• Dyad therapy
• Multisystemic intervention programmes crucial to therapeutic progress in intrafamilial CSA.