POSSIBLE SIGNS OF CSA

While these are some of the more vivid signs, CSA is not limited to these signs, and there may be cases where none of these signs are visible, therefore, clinicians must be insightful, skillful, and intuitive.

COMMON SIGNS AND SIGNALS

1. Decline in school attendance
2. Emotional & social withdrawal
3. Aggressive behaviours
4. Covering-up, explaining away injuries with excuses
5. Poor hygiene
6. Signs of physical neglect
7. Fear of adults

CSA RED FLAGS

+sleep distrurbances, nightmares, fear of going to bed, fear of sleeping alone

+depression, excessive crying

+regression, reverting to behaviour of an earlier life stage or age, such as thumb sucking, bed wetting, needing a bottle

+nervous or aggressive behaviour towards adults

+unusual reaction to (or fear of) a particular individual

+expressing explicit sexual knowledge beyond the child’s age level

+sexual self-consciousness

+extreme sexual modesty

+drop in school performance, grades, or participation in activities

+abrupt changes in child’s behaviour and attitudes

+self destructive behaviour, drug or alcohol abuse

+running away from home

+displaying an unusual interest in the genitals of peers, adults, and animals

+withdrawal, isolation from peers, friends, and family