Ten Identifiable Signs of Child Abuse
• Unexplained Injuries. Visible signs of physical abuse may include unexplained burns and bruises in the shape of objects.
• Changes in Behaviors. Abuse can lead to many changes in a child’s behavior. Abused children often appear scared, anxious, depressed, withdrawn or more aggressive.
• Return to Earlier Behaviors. Abused children may display behaviors shown at earlier ages, such as thumb-sucking bed-wetting, fear of the dark or strangers.
• Fear of Going Home. Abused children may express apprehension or anxiety about leaving school or about going places with the person who is abusing them.
• Changes in Eating. The stress, fear and anxiety caused by abuse can lead to changes in a child’s eating behaviors, resulting in significant weight gain or loss.
• Changes in sleeping. Abused children may have frequent nightmares or have difficulty falling asleep, and as a result may appear tired or fatigue.
• Changes in School Performance and Attendance. Abused children may have difficulty concentrating or have excessive absences, sometimes due to adults trying to hide the child’s injuries from authorities.
• Lack of Personal Care or Hygiene. Abused and neglected children may appear uncared for. They may present as consistently dirty and have severe body odor, or lack sufficient clothing for weather.
• Risk Taking Behaviors. Young people who are being abused may engage in high-risk activities such as using drugs or alcohol or carrying a weapon.
• Inappropriate Sexual Behaviors. Children who have been sexually abused may exhibit overly sexualized behavior or use explicit sexual language

Andrea Malone, Jackson Parish DART Rural Advocate
208 Hudson
Jonesboro LA 71251
318-395-8006