Child Sexual Abuse

• What are the physical signs of abuse?
• Are their signs other than physical?
• Is the child likely to tell the parent / parents about the abuse?
• Is therapy helpful in determining abuse?
• How do parents cope with the knowledge that their child has been abused?

Sexual abuse of children is characterized by exposure of the child to age inappropriate sexual information. This information ranges from inappropriate exposure to sexually explicit magazines, videos, language, etc. to physical assaults of a sexual nature.

What are the physical signs of abuse?

Pain, swelling, or bruising of the genital area; painful urination or urinary tract infections, genital discharge; STD; pregnancy, etc.

Are their signs other than physical?

There can be behavioral changes such as sleep disturbance, eating disturbance, sudden or recurrent bed wetting, sudden or recurrent unexplained fears (these can be specific to persons or places or can be general fears), isolation and withdrawal, school or academic problems, and / or age inappropriate knowledge of sexual issues.

Is the child likely to tell the parent / parents about the abuse?

This depends on a variety of factors such as: the child's age and ability to verbalize thoughts and feelings; the amount of information the child has been given about abuse, etc. Many times the child has been threatened with harm to the child or parents if he / she tells someone which may prohibit the child from talking.

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Suspected abuse may be reported to the local Department of Human Resources or 1-800-4AChild (The Child Help USA Hotline).

Please contact us for more information or for an appointment by calling us at 281-357-4111 or e-mailing us at info@cccctomball.com.

Office Hours

Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday appointments available from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.