Any non-accidental injury to a child, including shaking and excessive discipline.
Child Indicators
- Unexplained physical injuries
- Premature loss of teeth
- Verbally reports abuse
- Wary of adult contacts
- Consistent anger, aggression, hyperactivity
- Behavioural extremes
- Role reversal
- Developmental lags
- Appears frightened of carer
- Apprehensive when other children cry
- Wears clothes to cover injuries
- Seeks affection from any adult
- Non-expression of his/her needs
- Non-communicative
Carer Indicators
- Seems unconcerned about child
- Seems anxious and overwhelmed by their child’s needs
- Takes a long time to get medical care for child
- Gives inadequate explanation for the child’s injury
- Takes child to a different doctor for each injury
- Substance abuser
- Disciplines the child too harshly
- Describes child in a consistently negative manner
- Has poor impulse control