Child neglect and emotional abuse

Definition

Neglect and emotional abuse can cause a child a lot of harm. It is often hard to see or prove this kind of abuse, so other people are less likely to help the child. When a child is being physically or sexually abused, emotional abuse is also often happening to the child.

Alternative Names

Neglect - child; Emotional abuse - child

Symptoms

EMOTIONAL ABUSE

These are examples of emotional abuse:

These are signs that a child may be emotionally abused. They may have any of the following:

CHILD NEGLECT

These are examples of child neglect:

These are signs that a child may be neglected. The child may:

Treatment

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP

If you think a child is in immediate danger because of abuse or neglect, call 911 or the local emergency number.

Call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453). Crisis counselors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Interpreters are available to help in more than 170 languages. The counselor on the phone can help you determine what steps to take next. All calls are anonymous and confidential.

Counseling and support groups are available for children and for abusive parents who want to get help.

Outlook (Prognosis)

The long-term outcome depends on:

References

Dubowitz H, Lane WG. Abused and neglected children. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 16.

American Academy of Pediatrics: healthy children.org website. Child abuse and neglect : what parents should know. www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/Pages/What-to-Know-about-Child-Abuse.aspx. Updated March 16, 2022. Accessed December 8, 2022.

US Department of Health & Human Services, Children's Bureau website. Child abuse & neglect. www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/focus-areas/child-abuse-neglect. Updated July 1, 2021. Accessed December 8, 2022.



Review Date: 10/22/2022
Reviewed By: Charles I. Schwartz MD, FAAP, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, General Pediatrician at PennCare for Kids, Phoenixville, PA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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