Short And Long Term Effects Of Child Abuse Essay

There are many, potentially extensive, lasting effects of child abuse. Abuse is defined as treating a person with cruelty or violence regularly, or repeatedly (Webster's Dictionary). Statistics from childhelp.org have shown that one case of child abuse and neglect are reported every ten seconds. Making a total every year of 6.6 million children that are referred to child protective agencies. On average, America loses four to seven children a day due to child abuse and neglect. Four out of five of these victims were abused by a parent or guardian. Children and adolescents make up most of the victims according to National Statistics on Child Abuse. Thus, giving America one of the worst records for abuse among industrialized nations.

During childhood a child’s brain is developing. The development of a child’s brain relies largely on nutritional, medical, and intellectual support of those around them. Recent advances in brain research have provided great insight into how the brain, the most immature of all organs at birth, continues to grow and develop after birth. Where as this growth had been thought to be determined primarily by genetics, scientists now believe that it is also highly dependent upon the child’s experiences according to childwelfare.com . Research shows that, like protein, fat, and vitamins, interactions with other people and objects are vital nutrients for the growing and developing brain, and different experiences can cause the brain to develop in different ways (Startingsmart.pdf). The way a child is able to learn, solve problems, and interact with other people depend strongly on experiences the child has during

Contact abuse involves touching for example fondling, touching a child with or without clothes, penetration, and making a child touch another person’s genital area. Noncontact abuse involves non touching activities such as sexting, encouraging a child to watch or hear sexual acts, or meeting a child with the intent to abuse them. (NSPCC)

Statistics show that 1 in 20 children are sexually abused. Disabled children are 3 times more likely to be abused. Of the children who were sexually abused 90% were abused by someone they knew. Over 3,000 children were known to need protection from sexual abuse last year. Over 10,000 children reached out to a child helpline about sexual abuse. Sexual abuse was the primary reason cited in 10% of all children maltreatment investigations. Lastly two million people worldwide are affected by child exploitation (NSPCC).

Signs of sexual abuse tend to be more alarming than other types of abuse. Physical signs can include physical trauma such as redness, rash, or bleeding from oral, genital, and/or anal bleeding. Other physical signs can include bruises on breast or buttocks, complaints of itching around genital area, unusual body odors, difficulty walking or sitting, blood in urine, pain and discomfort using the bathroom, constipation, abnormal dialation of vagianl or anal openings, or std’s