Kaye Healey, Sexual Abuse, The Spinney Press 1996, p. 3.

PHYSICAL INDICATORS

Genital and Anal Areas

- Bruises, scratches or other injuries not consistent with accidental injury.

- Itching, soreness, discharge or unexplained bleeding.

- Painful and frequent urination.

- Signs of sexually transmitted infections.

- Semen in the vagina, anus or external genitalia or on clothing.

General

- Bruises, bite marks or other injuries, buttocks, lower abdomen or thighs.

- Difficulty walking or sitting.

- Torn, stained or bloodied underwear.

- Pregnancy in adolescents where the identity of the father is vague or secret.

- Recurrent urinary tract infections.

- Persistent headaches or recurrent abdominal pain.

- Unexplained pain in the genital area.

BEHAVIORAL INDICATORS

Sexual

- Over attention to adults of a particular sex.

- Displaying unusual interest in the genitals of others and self.

- Acting out adult sexual behaviour with adults, dolls or other children.

- Open display of sexuality, e.g. repeated public masturbation.

- Precocious knowledge of sexual matters.

- Promiscuity, repetitious sexually precocious behaviour.

General

- Sudden changes in mood behaviour.

- Difficulty sleeping, nightmares.

- Regressed behaviour - bed-wetting, separation anxiety, insecurity.

- Change in eating patterns including preoccupation with food.

- Lack of trust in familiar adults, fear of strangers, fear of men.

- Lack of appropriate boundaries in family - child fulfils parental role.

- Acting out behaviour - aggression, lying, stealing, unexplained running away, drug or alcohol abuse, suicide attempts.

- Withdrawn behaviour - passivity, excessive compliance, mood swings, depression.

- Learning problems at school, loss of concentration, unexplained drop in school performance.

- Poor peer relationships, family and/or child appear socially isolated.

- Reluctance to undress, e.g. for school sporting functions.

- Excessive bathing.

- Inappropriate displays of affection.