3 Signs That a Child May Have Experienced Sexual Abuse

Children without parents, or with ineffective parents, are vulnerable to all sorts of abuse. Adoptive parents, especially those adopting from foster care or internationally, are often in the position of having to decide whether to adopt a child when they have little information about the child’s previous life or experiences. Alternatively, they have already adopted a child and are beginning to wonder if their precious child was sexually abused in his pre-adoption life.

It is crucial to get the right kind of help for the child and for the family raising her for this family to thrive. Children can heal from sexual abuse, but the first step is for parents to understand if this abuse happened.

The following are signs that your child was at higher risk for sexual abuse or may have been sexually abused.

1.  The child’s pre-adoption environment:

• Lack of structure combined with the presence of adolescents and adults coming in and out of the child’s life.
• Absence of adults. Too few adults for too many children. Low caregiver to child ratio.
• Sleeping arrangements where older children or teens slept close to younger children.

2.  The adoption files:

• Little information and lots of unknowns within the file.
• Language that indicates a suspicion of sexual abuse, even if not explicitly stated.

3.  The child’s behavior:

• Explicit sexual knowledge beyond the child’s developmental stage.
• Sexual preoccupation indicated by language, drawings, or behavior. 
• Acting out sexually and general lack of understanding of boundaries. 
• Inserting toys or other objects in the genital or rectal area.
• Sexual behaviors with other children that seem unusual, aggressive, or unresponsive to limits or redirection.
• Excessive masturbation not responsive to limits or redirection.

Our partner, Creating a Family has many resources to support you if you suspect or know that your child has experienced sexual abuse. This interview, with Dr. Jennifer Shaw, is an excellent starting point to educate yourself. Additionally, you can find helpful resources on the topic from our partners at the North American Council on Adoptable Children, like this one.

Sources:

1. Creating a Family Radio Interview with Dr. Jennifer Shaw, a clinical psychologist at the Gil Institute for Trauma Recovery and Education, Adopting a Child That May Have Been Sexually Abused, May 6, 2015.
2. Child Welfare Information Parenting a Child Who Has Been Sexually Abused: A Guide for Foster and Adoptive Parents