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| Responding to Child Sexual
Abuse When a child tells an adult that he or she
has been sexually abused, the adult may feel uncomfortable and may not
know what to say or do. The following guidelines should be used when
responding to children who say they have been sexually abused: What to Say If a child even hints in a vague way that sexual abuse has occurred, encourage him or her to talk freely. Don't make judgmental comments. Show that you understand and take seriously what the child is saying. Child and adolescent psychiatrists have found that children who are listened to and understood do much better than those who are not. The response to the disclosure of sexual abuse is critical to the child's ability to resolve and heal the trauma of sexual abuse. Assure the child that they did the right thing in telling. A child who is close to the abuser may feel guilty about revealing the secret. The child may feel frightened if the abuser has threatened to harm the child or other family members as punishment for telling the secret. Tell the child that he or she is not to blame for the sexual abuse. Most children in attempting to make sense out of the abuse will believe that somehow they caused it or may even view it as a form of punishment for imagined or real wrongdoings. Finally, offer the child protection, and promise that you will promptly take steps to see that the abuse stops. What to Do Report any suspicion of child abuse. If the
abuse is within the family, report it to the local Child Protection
Agency. If the abuse is outside of the family, report it to the police or
district attorney's office. Individuals reporting in good faith are immune
from prosecution. The agency receiving the report will conduct an
evaluation and will take action to protect the child. Parents should consult with their
pediatrician or family physician, who may refer them to a physician who
specializes in evaluating and treating sexual abuse. The examining doctor
will evaluate the child's condition and treat any physical problem related
to the abuse, gather evidence to help protect the child, and reassure the
child that he or she is all right. Children who have been sexually abused
should have an evaluation by a child and adolescent psychiatrist or other
qualified mental health professional to find out how the sexual abuse has
affected them, and to determine whether ongoing professional help is
necessary for the child to deal with the trauma of the abuse. The child
and adolescent psychiatrist can also provide support to other family
members who may be upset by the abuse. While most allegations of sexual abuse made
by children are true, some false accusations may arise in custody disputes
and in other situations. Occasionally, the court will ask a child and
adolescent psychiatrist to help determine whether the child is telling the
truth, or whether it will hurt the child to speak in court about the
abuse. When a child is asked as to testify,
special considerations--such as videotaping, frequent breaks, exclusion of
spectators, and the option not to look at the accused--make the experience
much less stressful. Adults, because of their maturity and
knowledge, are always the ones to blame when they abuse children. The
abused children should never be blamed. When a child tells someone about sexual abuse, a supportive, caring response is the first step in getting help for the child and reestablishing their trust in adults. Source: Facts for Families © is developed and
distributed by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Facts sheets may be reproduced for personal or educational use without
written permission, but cannot be included in material presented for sale
or profit. A complete set of over 60 Facts sheets covering issues facing
children and adolescents is available for $25.00 plus 15% shipping and
handling). Please make checks payable to:
AACAP, and send requests to Public Information, P.O. Box 96106,
Washington, D.C. 20090-6106. Copyright © 1997 by the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
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