p3- explain the physical, social, emotional and intellectual indicators that would lead to suspicion of child maltreatment
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naomiward11101 (student)
Naomi Ward
Unit 10 P3- explains the physical, social, emotional and intellectual indicators that would lead to suspicion of child maltreatment or abuse.
Child maltreatment, sometimes referred to as child abuse and neglect, includes all forms of physical and emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and exploitation that results in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, development or dignity. Within this broad definition, five subtypes can be distinguished – physical abuse; sexual abuse; neglect and negligent treatment; emotional abuse; and exploitation.
Physical abuse
Defined as non-accidental trauma or physical injury caused by punching, beating, kicking, biting, burning or otherwise harming a child, physical abuse is the most visible form of child maltreatment. Many times, physical abuse results from inappropriate or excessive physical discipline. A parent or caretaker in anger may be unaware of the magnitude of force with which he or she strikes the child. Other factors that can contribute to child abuse include parents’ immaturity, lack of parenting skills, poor childhood experiences and social isolation, as well as frequent crisis situations, drug or alcohol problems and domestic violence.
Indicators that would lead to the suspicion would be:
. Unexplained bruises
2. Unexplained burns, especially cigarette burns or immersion burns
3. Unexplained fractures, lacerations or abrasions
4. Swollen areas
5. Evidence of delayed or inappropriate treatment for injuries
6. Self destructive
7. Withdrawn and/or aggressive - behavioral extremes
8. Arrives at school early or stays late as if afraid to be at home
9. Chronic runaway
0. Complains of soreness or moves uncomfortably
1. Wears clothing inappropriate to weather, to cover body
2. Bizarre explanation of injuries
3. Wary of adult contact
Consequences of physical abuse can prevent children and young people from doing a lot in life. It can leave them feeling fearful from doing day to day activities such as going to school and socialising, this can also lead to them feeling anxious, lonely and isolated in the world because they are not socialising and living normal lives like other young people and children. being abused can also make children and young people feeling worthless with low self-esteem, this can then lead to feeling depressed which can sometimes lead to self-harming.
Neglect
Child neglect is a very common type of child abuse. It's a pattern of failing to provide for a child's basic needs, whether it be adequate food, clothing, hygiene, or supervision. Child neglect is not always easy to spot. Sometimes, a parent might become physically or mentally unable to care for a child, such as with a serious injury, untreated depression, or anxiety. Other times, alcohol or drug abuse may seriously impair judgment and the ability to keep a child safe.
Older children might not show outward signs of neglect, becoming used to presenting a ...
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Neglect
Child neglect is a very common type of child abuse. It's a pattern of failing to provide for a child's basic needs, whether it be adequate food, clothing, hygiene, or supervision. Child neglect is not always easy to spot. Sometimes, a parent might become physically or mentally unable to care for a child, such as with a serious injury, untreated depression, or anxiety. Other times, alcohol or drug abuse may seriously impair judgment and the ability to keep a child safe.
Older children might not show outward signs of neglect, becoming used to presenting a competent face to the outside world, and even taking on the role of the parent. But at the end of the day, neglected children are not getting their physical and emotional needs met.
Some neglect indicators would be:
. Abandonment
2. Unattended medical needs
3. Consistent lack of supervision
4. Consistent hunger, inappropriate dress, poor hygiene
5. Lice, distended stomach, emaciated
6. Inadequate nutrition
7. Regularly displays fatigue or listlessness, falls asleep in class
8. Steals food, begs from classmates
9. Reports that no caretaker is at home
0. Frequently absent or tardy
1. Self destructive
2. drop out of school
3. Extreme loneliness and need for affection
Consequences of neglect are generally cumulative, and often negatively affect the child's development. For example, poor nutrition has negative consequences on the child's physical and psychological development. If proper nutrients are not available at critical growth periods, the child's development will not follow the normal and usual pattern. Common physical and psychological reactions to neglect include stunted growth, chronic medical problems, inadequate bone and muscle growth, and lack of neurological development that negatively affects normal brain functioning and information processing. Processing problems may often make it difficult for children to understand directions, may negatively impact the child's ability to understand social relationships, or may make completion of some academic tasks impossible without assistance or intervention from others. Lack of adequate medical care may result in long-term health problems or impairments such as hearing loss from untreated ear infections.
Long-term mental health effects of neglect are inconsistent. Effects of neglect can range from chronic depression to difficulty with relationships; however, not all adults neglected as children will suffer from these results. Some individuals are more resilient than others and are able to move beyond the emotional neglect they may have experienced. Characteristics of resilient individuals include an optimistic or hopeful outlook on life, and feeling challenged rather than defeated by problems.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse is unwanted sexual activity, with perpetrators using force, making threats or taking advantage of victims not able to give consent. Most victims and perpetrators know each other. Immediate reactions to sexual abuse include shock, fear or disbelief. Long-term symptoms include anxiety, fear or post-traumatic stress disorder. While efforts to treat sex offenders remain unpromising, psychological interventions for survivors — especially group therapy — appears effective. Sexual abuse may be non-touching: obscene language, pornography, exposure - or touching: fondling, molesting, oral sex, intercourse
some of the sexual abuse indicators would be:
. Torn, stained or bloody underclothing
2. Pain, swelling or itching in genital area
3. Difficulty walking or sitting
4. Bruises or bleeding in genital area
5. Venereal disease
6. Frequent urinary or yeast infections
7. Excessive seductiveness
8. Role reversal, overly concerned for siblings
9. Massive weight change
0. Suicide attempts (especially adolescents)
1. Inappropriate sex play or premature understanding of sex
2. Threatened by physical contact, closeness
Children respond to sexual assault in many different ways according to their age, gender, personality and family circumstances. Their behavior will always reflect how they feel as children tend to communicate through their behavior. Children frequently find it extremely hard to talk about what is happening to them, especially when they've been told to keep it a secret or have been subjected to coercion, bribery or threats. Children very rarely lie about sexual abuse. They may underplay the effects of the abuse or change the identity of the perpetrator in an attempt to protect the family, but they have not been found to lie about the occurrence of the abuse itself
.
Emotional Abuse
Emotional child abuse is a pattern of behavior that attacks a child's emotional development and sense of well-being. This includes excessive, aggressive or unreasonable demands that place expectations on a child beyond his or her capacity. Three-year-olds, for example, can not be expected to sit quietly for an extended length of time. They just do not have the physical control of their bodies yet. And still, you will find parent after parent placing this unrealistic demand on a young child, only to end up frustrated at the lack of compliance.
some of the emotional indicators would be:
. Speech disorders
2. Delayed physical development
3. Substance abuse
4. Ulcers, asthma, severe allergies
5. Habit disorder (sucking, rocking, biting)
6. Antisocial, destructive
7. Neurotic traits (sleep disorders, inhibition of play)
8. Passive and aggressive - behavioral extremes
9. Delinquent behavior
0. Developmentally delayed
Behavioral indicators of all maltreatment or abuse
A child’s behavior might also signal that something is wrong. Victims of physical abuse may display withdrawn or aggressive behavioral extremes, complain of soreness or uncomfortable movement, wear clothing that is inappropriate for the weather, express discomfort with physical contact or become chronic runaways.
In many ways, emotional abuse is more psychologically harmful than physical abuse. There are a couple of reasons for this. Even in the most violent families, the incidents tend to be cyclical. Early in the abuse cycle, a violent outburst is followed by a honeymoon period of remorse, attention, affection, and generosity, but not genuine compassion. Emotional abuse, on the other hand, tends to happen every day. The effects are more harmful because they're so frequent.
Behavioral indicators of child maltreatment could be:
. Runaway attempts and fear of going home
2. Stilted conversation, vacant stares or frozen watchfulness, no attempt to seek comfort when hurt
3. Describes self as bad and deserving to be punished
4. Cannot recall how injuries occurred, or offers an inconsistent explanation
5. Wary of adults or reluctant to go home
6. Often absent from school/child care
7. May flinch if touched unexpectedly
8. Extremely aggressive or withdrawn
9. Displays indiscriminate affection-seeking behavior
0. Abusive behavior and language in play
1. Overly compliant and/or eager to please
2. Poor sleeping patterns, fear of the dark, frequent nightmares
3. Sad, cries frequently
4. Drug/alcohol misuse
5. Depression
6. poor memory and concentration
7. Suicide attempts
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naomiward11101 (student)
