Young children who are sexually abused often have difficulty understanding or explaining what has happened. While tens of thousands of sexual child abuse cases are reported each year, many are not reported because children are afraid to tell or they do not have the words to tell. Recognizing the signs of sexual abuse can lead to fast intervention and professional help for very young victims.
Child Reports Abuse
Young children who have been sexually abused may have trouble explaining what has happened to them, but they may describe what they are experiencing. A child may report touching or inappropriate behavior or he may describe pain or discomfort. A physical examination helps to determine what has happened. When a child tells an adult about sexual abuse, the adult should let her know she is believed and that it is not her fault.
Preoccupation With Sex
Young children who have been sexually abused may be express unusual interest in sex. They may display inappropriate sexual behavior, such as public masturbation and unusual sexual knowledge. Young children may imitate sexual behavior with toys or other children and express affection inappropriately.
Emotional Changes
A young child who is a sexual abuse victim may appear sad and withdrawn. He may speak of himself as being bad or he may speak of his body as being dirty. He may believe that something is wrong in his genital area. The child may become clingy, exhibit regressive behavior such as thumb-sucking and crying, have nightmares and begin wetting the bed. He may suddenly become afraid of the dark, a specific person or a place.
Behavioral Changes
Young children who are sexually abused often exhibit extreme behavioral changes. An abuse victim may become aggressive and have drastic changes in her eating habits or sleep patterns. Her school may report poor grades and her behavior may worsen at home and at school, including lying, self-harming behaviors and poor interaction with peers.
Physical Signs
Young child sexual abuse victims may have difficulty sitting or walking. A child may complain of pain of discomfort in her genital area. Parents may notice redness, swelling, discharge or bleeding in the genital or rectal area. The child may have trouble swallowing and frequent stomach-aches, headaches and other pains. A young child who contracts a sexually transmitted disease should immediately raise suspicions of sexual abuse.
Behavior of the Abuser
Child sexual abusers are often overly protective of the abused child. The abuser may drastically curtail contact between the child and other children, especially children of the opposite sex. The abuser may exhibit extreme jealously and behave in a controlling manner with family members. The abuser is secretive and seeks to isolate the victim.
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