Child Sexual Abuse

Mary Lou Scheumann, LCSW, ACSW, MSW

Child sexual abuse is an unfortunately too common event in our society. Understanding what is sexual abuse is to first step in ensuring the safety of our children. One website, Stop It Now, The Campaign to Prevent Child Abuse, gives lists of specific touching and non-touching behaviors in child sexual abuse. A common misconception regarding sexual abuse is that only behaviors involving touching inappropriately are sexual abuse. In fact, sexual abuse also includes non-touching behaviors that expose a child sexually or include pornography.

The Stop It Now website also gives a list of behavioral warning signs of a child whom may have been sexually abused. It is noted in the article preceding the list that one sign does not indicate sexual abuse but if there are several signs, it is time to ask more questions.

The following is the list of behavioral warning signs from that website:

• Nightmares, trouble sleeping, fear of the dark, or other sleeping problems.
• Extreme fear of “monsters”.
• Spacing out at odd times.
• Loss of appetite, or trouble eating or swallowing.
• Sudden mood swings: rage, fear, anger, or withdrawal.
• Fear of certain people or places (e.g., a child may not want to be left alone with a baby-sitter, a friend, a relative, or some other child or adult; or a child who is usually talkative and cheery may become quiet and distant when around a certain person).
• Stomach illness of the time with no identifiable reason.
• An older child behaving like a younger child, such as bed-wetting or thumb sucking.
• Sexual activities with toys or other children, such as simulating sex with dolls or asking other children/siblings to behave sexually.
• New words for private body parts.
• Refusing to talk about a “secret” he/she has with an adult or older child.
• Talking about a new older friend.
• Suddenly having money.
• Cutting or burning herself or himself as an adolescent.

The next step in protecting our children requires courage and sometimes making difficult choices. Studies repeatedly show that a child is more likely to be abused by a family member, friends, neighbors, or other people who are part of a child’s life. Since a child is normally protected from roaming freely, it is logical that a perpetrator of sexual abuse has both access and some degree of trust with a child.

It is often difficult for people to report or seek help for a child when the suspected abuser is a significant person in a child’s life. Feelings of disbelief, shock, or denial are common, and sometimes unfortunately result in the abuser being protected and the victim being silenced and at risk for more abuse.

We all have a responsibility to protect our children from sexual abuse and to seek help for them if they are abused. If you suspect your child has been sexually abused, please call your local child protective services or a mental health agency so that child is safe and can heal. Child sexual abuse damages a child and treatment is critical in their emotional health.

If you have any further questions feel free to call the Adams Memorial Hospital Behavioral Health Resource Center at (260) 589-2442 (Berne) or 728-3906 (Decatur).