Potential Indicators of Sexual Abuse of a Child (ages 2-13)

Listed below are some of the indicators of sexual abuse.

Please note that one of these alone, or even a combination, does not prove that abuse occurred. Click the link for more information about childhood sexual development.

• Withdrawing from others
• Public masturbation
• Wetting accidents
• Sexual play with toys
• Re-occurring stomach aches, headaches and sore throats
• Touching others private parts
• Eating changes (increase or decrease in appetite)
• Kissing and Hugging all the time (even with strangers)
• Speaking about body parts
• Difficulties with separation
• Sleeping difficulties or nightmares
• Having lots of worries
• Fighting
• Irritability
• Difficulty concentrating in school
• Intolerance of physical contact
• Role Reversal
• Specific fear of males or females