Signs of Sexual Abuse

Sex abuse often causes certain physical and emotional changes.

Because sexual abuse takes so many forms, the signs of sexual abuse are often difficult to detect. Furthermore, sexual abuse victims often do not come forward for several years, mostly because they fear retaliation or reprimand. Furthermore, these victims do not want to be the ones who damage family ties. Therefore, previous sexual abuse may not even be on the radar until a child custody or other family law case goes to court.

If any signs of sexual abuse appear, a certain procedure usually applies. In most jurisdictions, the judge often immediately asks a social worker or other professional to verify sexual abuse allegations. If this professional verifies these allegations, the abuser often has limited, if any, visitation rights. A Ft. Worth family law attorney is an important partner in this special procedure. Without a tough advocate, alleged abusers could be labeled and categorized for life.

Physical Signs

The physical signs of sexual abuse are often apparent immediately, or almost immediately, if parents and other caregivers know how to look for them. These physical indications include:

• Unexplained bruises or other wounds, especially around the genitals,
• Pain, difficulty, or bleeding during urination or bowel movements,
• An STD (sexually transmitted disease) or, more likely among children, a UTI (urinary tract infection),
• Frequent headaches, stomachaches, or other unexplained physical complaints, and
• Changes in hygiene habits (e.g., refusal to bathe or wash certain body parts).

James Bond author Ian Fleming once wrote that once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, and thrice is enemy action. One or two physical symptoms probably should not raise an alarm, especially if those physical symptoms are spaced out. More than one or two, especially if close together, probably means a Ft. Worth family law attorney should at least review the case.

If a child is in danger, a judge may sign an emergency order limiting contact between the child and a parent or other adult, at least until more evidence is available as outlined above.

Behavioral Signs

Any form of abuse, especially sexual abuse, often involves more non-physical symptoms than physical ones. Sudden and unexplained behavioral changes are a good example.

Child sexual abuse victims often radically alter their behavior. For example, Susie may suddenly withdraw from friends, family, or activities she once enjoyed. Or, she may suddenly be afraid of people or places that never bothered her before.

Of course, children, and especially teens, regularly alter their behavior in unexpected ways. So, a radical behavioral change isn’t necessarily a sign of sexual abuse, but it is a red flag.

Emotional Signs

Behavioral changes refer to the way victims relate to people in their environments. Emotional signs of sexual abuse pertain to the victim’s own emotions. Common emotional signs of sexual abuse include:

• Depression, anxiety, or fearfulness,
• Low self-esteem or self-harm (cutting, burning, etc.),
• Difficulty trusting others, especially adults or authority figures,
• Outbursts of anger or irritability, and
• Sudden changes in mood or behavior, such as becoming unusually quiet or withdrawn.

Additional emotional signs of sexual abuse among teens include substance abuse, which is a coping mechanism, and disassociation (e.g., feeling disconnected from reality or as if “floating”).

Rely on a Dedicated Tarrant County Attorney

The signs of sexual abuse are difficult to spot. For a confidential consultation with an experienced family law attorney in Ft. Worth, contact the Law Office of Kyle Whitaker. We routinely handle matters throughout North Texas.