The Healing Place
Taking
Action against Sexual Assault and Child Abuse
Sexual Assault Response & Resource Center
Child
Advocacy Center of Henderson County
The following is a list of some of the behaviors commonly displayed by children who are or have been
sexually abused. Although the presence of one or more of these indicators is not proof that a child is being
sexually abused, it should be enough to cause the concerned, alert professional to closely observe the child,
to try to uncover the source of the behaviors. If at any time, a professional suspects a child is being sexually
abused, she/he must report the suspicions to law enforcement or the Department of Social Services.
♦ Depression
♦ Withdrawal or isolation from peers
♦ Chronic runaway
♦ Drug/alcohol abuse
♦ Increase in physical complaints—headaches, chronic
illness
♦ Attention-seeking behaviors or inappropriate acting
out
♦ Suicide attempts
♦ Physical abuse—self-inflicted or inflicted by
others
♦ Truancy
♦ Drop in academic performance
♦ Poor self image, reflected in choice of clothing or
overall appearance
♦ Limited or overly restricted participation in social
activities
♦ Bisexual or homosexual experimentation
♦ Promiscuous or overly seductive behavior or prostitution
♦ Hysterical paralysis
Behavioral signs among young children
♦ Excessive masturbation
♦ Bedwetting (Enuresis) after completion of toilet training
♦ Fecal Soiling (Encopresis)
♦ Disturbed sleep patterns
♦ Severe nightmares, fears, or phobias
♦ Exaggerated fear of a particular person or place
♦ Regression in developmental mile stones or learning
problems
♦ Explicit knowledge of sexual acts
♦ Excessive curiosity about sexual acts
♦ Precocious sex play
♦ Seductiveness
♦ Overly compulsive behavior
♦ Clinging/wining to a particular (non-offending) care-giver
♦ Open sexual behavior after age5-7
Crisis: 828-692-3931
Business: 828-692-0495
Fax: 828-692-0433
www.thehealingplace.info
100B Chadwick Square Court
Hendersonville, NC 28739
Post Office Box 2461
Hendersonville,
NC 28793
The
Healing Place
Taking
Action against Sexual Assault and Child Abuse
Borrowed From:
http://www.thehealingplace.info/pdfs/Indicators.pdf
