Sexual Abuse of Infants and Toddlers (From American Psychiatric Press Review of Psychiatry, Volume 10, 1991, P 308-319, Allan Tasman, Stephen M. Goldfinger, eds. -- See NCJ-137524)

• NCJ Number: 137526
• Author(s): D H Schetky
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 12 pages
• Sale Source: American Psychiatric Press, Inc
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter explores risk factors and the problems inherent in evaluating children under age 3 for sexual abuse.

Abstract

In its overview of the problem, the chapter identifies the perpetrators and the children at risk of sexual abuse, discusses techniques for interviewing children for suspected child abuse, highlights legal issues, and describes case examples which demonstrate the variety of ways in which infants and toddlers may present and the problems inherent in using traditional interviewing approaches with such young children. Approaches to evaluating child sexual abuse must be modified with pre-verbal and barely verbal children. The cases cited show that direct questioning usually is not very fruitful and that it is necessary to take a thorough history and observe and record the child's behaviors carefully. Spontaneous utterances may be stimulated by play materials or another possibility is to stage activities that might trigger the child's associations. If unable to resolve the question of sexual abuse, it is critical to offer the child protection, e.g., supervised visitation when indicated and periodic case review. 23 references