Autism

Autism

Is it abuse or an accident when children have injuries?

What is the true meaning of Child Abuse?

Child Abuse or maltreatment constitutes all forms of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect or other exploitation, resulting in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power.

The Reality of Child Abuse

  1. Children are more likely to be abused by people they know than strangers
  2. The number of children being abused and neglected is increasing
  3. Child abuse can lead to depression, drug abuse and homelessness in later life
  4. Disabled children are more likely to become victims of abuse than non-disabled children
  5. It is not always obvious that a child is being abused
  6. If abuse happened once it is likely to happen again

Risk Factors
  * Mental or physical disabilities
  * The “challenging” child
  * Infants and young children
  * Dysfunctional or isolated families
  * Substance abuse in the home
  * Unrealistic parental expectations

Indicators of Possible Abuse

  * Lack of concern for child’s injuries/pain
  * Inability/unwillingness to comfort child
  * Delay in seeking needed medical care
  * Incompatible or absent history

Many different types of Abuse

  * Physical abuse
  * Emotional abuse
  * Neglect
  * Sexual abuse

Physical abuse – any injury to a child that is not accidental (broken bones, bruises, cuts and other injuries) or any action which could have seriously harmed the child but luckily did not (striking a child with a weapon, discharging a gun in the presence of a child, or other similar actions).
Consequences of physical abuse would lead into:
    -Bruises, welts
              -Ocular damage
              -Fractures
              -Injuries in central nervous system
              -Poisoning

Emotional abuse – includes making a child feel...