Determining when to report suspected child abuse or neglect may be difficult. A bruise on a toddler's forehead may be the result of learning to walk or the result of abuse. Below are some of the commonly accepted physical and behavioral indicators of abuse and/or neglect. Please note that the physical and behavioral indicators listed are not the only indicators of child abuse and neglect and if present, do not always mean a child is being abused or neglected.

Physical Neglect - Physical Indicators

• Unattended medical needs.
• Lack of supervision.
• Regular signs of hunger, inappropriate dress, poor hygiene.
• Distended stomach, emaciated.
• Significant weight change.

Physical Neglect - Behavioral Indicators

• Regularly displays fatigue or listlessness, falls asleep in class.
• Steals/hoards food, begs from classmates.
• Reports that no caretaker is at home.
• Frequently absent or tardy.
• School dropout (adolescents).

Physical Abuse - Physical Indicators

• Unexplained bruises (in various stages of healing), welts, loop marks.
• Adult/human bite marks.
• Bald spots or missing clumps of hair.
• Unexplained burns/scalds.
• Unexplained fractures, skin lacerations/punctures or abrasions.
• Swollen lips/chipped teeth.
• Linear/parallel marks on cheeks and temple area.
• Crescent-shaped bruising.
• Puncture wounds.
• Bruising behind the ears.

Physical Abuse - Behavioral Indicators

• Self-destructive/self-mutilation.
• Withdrawn and/or aggressive-behavior extremes.
• Uncomfortable/skittish with physical contact.
• Arrives at school late or stays late as if afraid to be at home.
• Chronic runaway (adolescents).
• Complains of soreness or moves uncomfortably.
• Wears clothing inappropriate to weather, to cover body.
• Lack of impulse control (e.g. inappropriate outbursts).

Sexual Abuse - Physical indicators

• Pain or itching in genital area.
• Bruises or bleeding in genital area.
• Venereal disease.
• Frequent urinary or yeast infections.
• Extreme or sudden weight change.
• Pregnancy under 12 years of age.

Sexual Abuse - Behavioral Indicators

• Withdrawal, chronic depression.
• Sexual behaviors or references that are unusual for the child's age.
• Seductive or promiscuous behavior.
• Poor self-esteem, self-devaluation, lack of confidence.
• Suicide attempts (especially adolescents).
• Hysteria, lack of emotional control.
• Habit Disorders (sucking, rocking).

Mandated Reporter ' s Resource Guide

View the Mandated Reporter's Resource Guidefor more detailed information.