Guest Written by Nicolette Ayden

As difficult as it may be to believe, child abuse occurs more frequently than you might think. Over 618,399 cases of child abuse were recorded in the US in 2020 alone, and the most common form of maltreatment by far is neglect.

With so many factors contributing to child abuse, you and other parents or caregivers may be wondering how exactly to spot signs of such mistreatment in a child. Below we discuss a few key indicators and list a few ways you can stop it from happening.

Types of child abuse and their symptoms

Physical abuse

When you think about child abuse, this is probably the first kind of mistreatment that comes to mind. It occurs when children receive intentional physical harm from others, whether it be family members, peers, or other prominent figures in their lives. Injuries are likely to stem from physical abuse if their origins are inadequately or inconsistently explained.

Sexual abuse

Sexual abuse can be caused by everything from exposing a child to pornography and fondling to oral or genital intercourse. Sadly, statistics prove that family members are the most common perpetrators. Signs include a child exhibiting inappropriately-advanced sexual knowledge or behavior, traces of blood in their underwear, admissions from the child of said abuse, or unwanted pregnancies and STD transmissions.

Mental abuse

Below the surface, children may also be experiencing emotional turmoil as a result of verbal assault, isolation, or exposure to violence inflicted upon others. Some signs include stunted emotional development, depression, a persistent want of affection, and self-isolation or a lack of interest in daily activities.

Neglect

On the other hand, a parent or caregiver may not be providing a child basic necessities such as food, shelter, education, or medical care. This can be ascertained if a child wears ill-fitting, weather-inappropriate, or dirty clothes, attends school or medical appointments infrequently, is growing slowly, or has a tendency to steal necessities like food from others.

What you can do about it?

Call the Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline

844-CO-4-Kids - Available 24 hours a day, every day. Don't hesitate to call and get help. Anyone witnessing a child in a life-threatening situation should call 911 immediately.

Consult a social worker

Regardless of whether you're a relative of the child or not, it's best to seek advice from the professionals who form the immediate front line against child abuse. Social work matters in these cases because there are experts that are specially trained to advocate for the marginalized, such as children, across a wide range of issues. Educators can direct kids to school mental health professionals with a background in social work who are equipped to deal with any mental health- or behavior-related concerns. Meanwhile, families can talk with community outreach workers to see if there are any community programs that meet their needs.

Look for signs of abuse in yourself

As difficult as it may seem, parents and other caregivers must often look inwards to see if any of their actions are unintentionally harming their child. If you have trouble controlling your anger, can't relate to your child's emotions, or find it difficult to meet your child's needs, or have had others voice out their concerns about your treatment of your child, make sure you work to resolve these issues. Aside from contacting social workers, you can attend classes, read books, or attend seminars to learn new parenting techniques. If the issues go much deeper, we've previously recommended family therapy as a way to jointly address parental behavior and any negative behavior children develop as a result.

Seek emergency help
However, some cases may warrant immediate attention. Grievous injuries may be sustained from physical or sexual abuse, and mental abuse or neglect may result in suicidal behavior. Depending on the circumstance, you may need to contact the family physician, the local police department, or child protective services. Do not hesitate to call 911 if the situation is urgent. Finally, medical professionals who come across probable victims must note that they are legally required to report any suspicions of child abuse to the local authorities.

Child abuse will negatively affect a child and their development, likely for the entirety of their life. As exemplified from the above discussion, however, effectively breaking the cycle of abuse is a community effort — one that you can play a part in. Interventions are available to help children and families heal and move forward from abuse and neglect.