Juvenile-HD

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SECTION 1 - AT RISK
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At Risk For HD-What Next?
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Crystal Ball?
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Parent Hasn't Tested?
Q&A On Risk of Inheriting JHD
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SECTION 2 - GENETIC TESTING
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SECTION 3 - JHD
Coping With The Early Years
Age of HD Appearance
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Family-HD Underestimated
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HD - What Kids Are Saying
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Talking With Children About HD
5 Stages of HD
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SECTION 4 - SYMPTOM RECOGNITION
Parent Resources
8 Fears of A Chronic Illness
Anxiety/Apathy/Irritability~HD
Anxiety, Fears & Phobias
Apathy-Physician's Guide
Ataxia
Attention-Perceptual/Unawareness Physician's Guide
Bed/Pressure Sores
Bed/Pressure Ulcer Guideline
Behavior Management
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Bradykinesia
Caring Tips
Child Abuse-Reconizing Signs
Chorea-Physician's Guide
Chorea
Cognitive/Decision Making/Impulsivity
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Contractures~Joints Locking
Dehydration-Physician's Guide
Dehydration
Delirium
Denial of HD
Depression~Physician's Guide
Depression-Understanding It
Depression-How To Help
Depression - Treatment Resistant Patient
Depression-Other Resources
-Read If Your Child Is On Antidepressant
Disgust - Impaired Recognition in HD
Dissociative disorders
Driving - Physician's Guide
Dyslexia
Dyslexia Resources
Dystonia
Dystonia/Rigidity & Spasticity Physician's Guide
Dystonia-Predominant Adult-Onset HD
Epileptic Seizures and Epilepsy
Epilepsy-Seizures~PG
-Seizures ~Special Populations
Falling~Safety
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Fevers - Unexplained
Fevers, sweating & menstural cycles in HD
GERD (Stomach)
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Hand muscle reflexes in HD
Hypothalamus - A Personal Theory
Insomia ~Physician's Guide
Irritability~Temper Outburst Physician's Guide
Learning Disability
Mania/OCD~Physician's Guide
Mood Disorder Rate In HD
Myoclonus (Movements)
Nails-What To Look For
Night Terrors
Obsessive Compulsive OCD
Panic Disorder
Personality disorders
Pneumonia
Pneumonia-Advanced Stages
Pneumonia - Aspirated (Inhaled)
Prosody - Social Impairment
Sexuality~Physician's Guide
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Sleep Disorders
Smoking-Physician's Guide
Spasticity
Stress
Tremors
Why Certain Symptoms Occur
Symptom & Treatment Resources
SECTION 5 - COMMUNICATION
Communication Resources
Communication Problems
Communication Strategies For HD~Jeff Searle
SECTION 6 - EATING/SWALLOWING/NUITRITION
Hints For Weight Loss in HD
HD & Diet~HSA Fact Sheet 7
Nutrients: Some Possible Deficiency Symptoms
Nutrition and HD~Anna Gaba (Recipes)
Nutrition Information In HD~Naomi Lundeen
Speech & Swallowing~Lynn Rhodes
Swallowing & Nutrition Physician's Guide To HD
Swallowing & Nuitrition Resources
Swallowing Warning Signs
5 Swallowing Problems
Taste changes in HD
Weight Gain
Resources-Drinks/Shakes
-Feeding Tubes~Advanced Stages of HD
-Feeding Tube~Jean Miller
-Feeding Tubes: One More Word ~Jean Miller
-Feeding Tubes & Baby Foods
-Feeding Tube~Dental Care
-Feeding Tube Instructions~Jean Miller
-Feeding Tube Resources
SECTION 7 - THERAPIES
Finding a Therapist - Behavoir
What Is A Physiotherapist?
Physical Therapy In HD
Speech-Language Therapy
Therapy Descriptions
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SECTION 8 - MEDICATIONS
HD Treatments
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Cutting Prescriptions
Drugs-Look 'Em Up
-Adolescents Under 25
-Antidepressant Adverse Effects
-Anti-psychotic
-Anxiety-Antidepressant
A-Z Mental Health Drugs
-Creatine
-EPA~Fish Oil
-Haldol/Haloperidol - Clinical Sheet
-Haldol~Clinician Description
-Haldol & HD
-Haldol/HD Patient Experiences
-Haldol~ Patient Handout
-Mood Stabilizers: ASK 3 Questions
-Neuroleptic Malignant Synd WARNING
-Olanzipine-Risperidone/blood tests
-Celexa/Luvox/Paxil/Prozac/Zoloft
-Psychiatric Drugs & Children
Sertraline ~Zoloft
-Spasticity Meds/Treatments
-SSRI Medications
-Tardive Dyskinesia WARNING
-Weight Gain Medications
-Sites/Help the Medicine Go Down
-Vitamin & Mineral Deficiencies
SECTION 9 - SURGERIES
Surgery-Movement Disorders
o Surgery Resources
SECTION 10 - PROCEDURES
Clinic Visits-How To Prepare
CT Scans, MRI's etc.
Swallowing Tests
Tests Commonly Used
o Procedures Resources
SECTION 11- ALCOHOL/DRUGS
Alcohol-Parent's Guide
Alcohol-Talking To Your Child
Drugs-What To Do?
Drugs-Talking To Your Child
Disciplining-Ages 0-13 & Up
SECTION 12- SUICIDE
Straight Talk On Suicide
Teen Suicide-You Need To Know
o Suicide Resources
SECTION 13 - DIVORCE
Divorce & Child Stress
Tips For Divorcing Parents
SECTION 14 - DISABILITY ISSUES
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Child Long Term Illness
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Special Needs Camp - About
Special Needs Camp - Finding One
SECTION 15 - ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
Child Assistive Technology
Adaptive Equipment Resources
Products
SECTION 16 - EMOTIONAL ISSUES
Signs of Unhealthy Self-Esteem
Emotional Behavior Links
o Emotional Support Resources
SECTION 17 - GRIEF
Helping Child Deal With Death
o Grief Addtional Resources
SECTION 18 - ADD/ADHD
ADD & Teens
Conduct Disorders
FAQS & Related Info
Understanding AD/HD
What Is AD/HD?
Research Articles
Resources
SECTION 19 - HD SUPPORT GROUPS
HD Support Groups
National Youth Association
SECTION 20 - HD LINKS
HD Links
Related Resources
Tips For Friends
SECTION 21 - BENEFITS/INSURNACE
HD Disability
Benefits Check UP - See What You Can Get
Medical Insurance Bureau's Facts On You!
Medicare-Medicaid
Medicare Rights-Home Health & Hospice
Medicare Rights Center Resources
No Insurance? Try This!
Prescription Drug Cards Part I
Prescription Drug Cards Part II
Social Security-Children With Disabilities
SECTION 22 - ARTICLES/JHD
JHD and ADD
SECTION 23 - CAREGIVING
Articles-Resources
Caregiver Self-Assessment
Caregiver's Handbook
"First Shift With A Person With HD"
Getting Respite Care/Help At Home
Helpful Forms-Info
Home Emergency Preparations
Symptom Management
Ten Tips
Useful Tools
SECTION 24 - BIO
Our Personal Experience
Coping At The End
Kelly E. Miller
Song & Verse
Letter From My Heart
GUESTBOOK
Child Abuse-Reconizing Signs

INDEX Page

 
Related Resources:
 
National Child Abuse Hotline  (800) 422-4453
 
Childhelp USA  http://www.childhelpusa.org/
Childhelp USA is dedicated to meeting the physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual needs of abused and neglected children. Call them at: (800) 422-4453 When the recording comes on, press 1 to talk with someone.
 
Parents Anonymous http://www.parentsanonymous-natl.org
Parents Anonymous encourages all parents to ask for help to break the cycle of abuse to protect today's children and strengthen tomorrow's generation of parents. Call (909) 621-6184.
 
Prevent Child Abuse America http://www.preventchildabuse.org
Prevent Child Abuse America (formerly the National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse) was established in 1972 to build a nationwide commitment to preventing all forms of child abuse. Call (312) 663-3520.
 
Child Abuse Prevention Services http://www.kidsafe-caps.org/bullies.html
This Web site for kids helps children learn techniques to deal with bullies.

Unthinkable as it is to imagine someone intentionally hurting a child, about 1 million children are abused every year in the United States. And these are only the reported incidents - many more are unreported and undetected, often because children are afraid to tell.

When mistreatment becomes abuse, children are injured, neglected, and emotionally damaged. Approximately 1,000 to 1,300 U.S. children are known to die as a result of physical abuse, and those who survive suffer emotional trauma that lasts long after the bruises have healed.

Some studies report that in the United States, as many as one out of every eight boys and one out of every four girls is sexually abused before turning 18 years old. In 90% of these cases, sexual abuse occurs in the home, particularly when younger children are involved. A child who knows the abuser (about 90% of cases involve an abuser who was previously known to the child) usually senses that the abuse is wrong, but he may feel trapped by the affection he feels for the person or fearful of the power the abuser has over him, so he doesn't tell. Whatever the statistics, one thing we know is that child abuse is too frequent and too often hidden.

Emotional abuse can be just as damaging. The effects can last a lifetime, stripping a child of self-esteem and affecting his relationships, happiness, and success.

Four Types of Abuse
Abuse of a child can mean physical abuse, physical neglect, sexual abuse, or emotional abuse.

Physical abuse can include the following actions when they are continuous, pervasive, and extreme, and if they are done intentionally to harm a child:

  • hitting
  • throwing
  • kicking
  • choking
  • biting
  • shaking
  • beating with an object
  • burning with a match, cigar, or cigarette
  • scalding with hot water
  • pushing and holding a child underwater
  • tying up a child
  • starving or failing to provide food for a child

The following actions can be considered physical neglect if they interfere with a child's growth and development:

  • not providing adequate housing or warm clothing in cold weather
  • locking a child in a closet or room
  • leaving a child alone for extended periods of time
  • not providing medical care when a child is sick or injured
  • placing a child in a physically dangerous situation

These actions can be considered sexual abuse:

  • fondling, touching, or kissing a child's sex organs
  • making a child touch someone else's sex organs
  • having sex with a child
  • showing a child pornographic material
  • showing sex organs to a child
  • forcing a child to undress
  • forcing a child to have sex with someone
  • making a child pose or perform for pornographic pictures or videos
  • telling a child "dirty" stories

Emotional abuse occurs when a parent ignores, terrorizes, blames, belittles, or otherwise makes a child feel that he's worthless and incompetent.

Shaken baby/shaken impact syndrome is a specific form of child abuse. It's the leading cause of death in child abuse cases in the United States. Most incidents last just 5 to 20 seconds, but that's enough time to cause sufficient brain damage to kill the baby. In some cases, a blow to the head accompanies the shaking.

Signs of Abuse
Of course, all children get scratches, bruises, and cuts from time to time. That's the nature of childhood - a time that's full of tumbling, climbing, and adventures. That makes it difficult to tell what's normal and what may be a sign of abuse. Unfortunately, there's no one telltale sign that a child is being abused. Bruises, black eyes, and broken bones are certainly clues, but other signs are less obvious. Children who have been abused may behave differently. They may have nightmares or trouble sleeping. Their school performance may suddenly decline. In addition, they may:

  • have a poor self-image
  • be unable to love or trust others
  • be aggressive or disruptive (become bullies)
  • display intense anger or rage
  • act out in the classroom
  • act out sexually
  • be self-destructive, self-abusive, or suicidal
  • feel sad, passive, withdrawn, or depressed
  • have difficulty forming new relationships
  • use drugs or alcohol
  • avoid going home after school
  • show a fear of certain adults

Children who witness abuse but are not victims themselves may also display some or all of the above signs. It's important to note that these symptoms are all nonspecific, meaning they could result from a number of causes - not just child abuse. Children who are under stress from a variety of sources - including parental separation, divorce, and visitation and custody arrangements - may show similar symptoms.

Those who abuse children may show certain nonspecific signs as well. For example, parents who abuse their children may avoid other parents in the neighborhood, may not participate in school activities, and may be uncomfortable talking about their children's injuries or behavioral problems.

What to Do if You Suspect Abuse
Abuse is not a private family matter, although it most often occurs within families and often every attempt is made to keep it secret. Once you suspect child abuse, you need to act to protect the child from further possible harm. It doesn't matter if you're wrong: it's better to be wrong than sorry.

Here's what to do:

  • If you suspect that a child is being abused, it's your responsibility to contact your local child protective services agency, police, hospital, or emergency hotline. If necessary, you may remain anonymous. The child's safety is the immediate issue: you could save his life.
  • If you have abused your own child or think that you might, talk with a friend, relative, or your child's doctor, or other trusted adult immediately. These people can refer you to a mental health professional who can help.
  • If you suspect that someone you know is abusing a child, such as a babysitter or child care provider, there are specific steps to take. "If parents have a reasonable suspicion that a caregiver is abusing their child, they should protect the child by limiting or supervising contact with that person. They should then talk to the child in a way that's not alarmist, at the child's developmental level," advises Paul Robins, PhD, a behavioral health specialist.

Your child should know about the different kinds of abuse and how to spot it. "The issue is helping kids identify what adults can and can't do, what's OK and not OK, and helping kids know who they can talk with once something happens," Dr. Robins says. They should be told that they don't have to do everything adults (such as teachers or babysitters) tell them to do, especially when they think it's wrong.

Dr. Robins continues, "Parents must educate their children at home, when children are cognitively able to understand, because this is when they begin to be on their own more. It's not too early to talk to a preschooler, in a very basic way. Pick up a book about the subject and read it with your child."

Adults who sexually abuse children often tell them that their relationship is a "secret" or that, if they tell anyone about what's happening, they will be hurt or get in trouble or that the person they tell will get hurt. Be sure your child knows that he can always come to you if he thinks someone is being abusive, even if that person has told him to keep it a secret.

A parent who learns that their spouse or close relative is committing child abuse may be in shock; it would be natural not to want to believe someone you love could be abusive of your child - and the reality can rock your world. Sometimes the facts may seem to horrible to face and the consequences to great, which can leave a parent confused and paralyzed. In some cases, a parent may choose to ignore or deny suspicions or even disbelieve a child sharing such information. While not all suspicions and accusations turn out to be true, all deserve serious attention and immediate action with the help of professionals. And your child always deserves to be heard, protected, and helped no matter what.

Helping Your Child Heal
If your child tells you about an abusive experience, remain calm and let him know that you believe him. Your reaction can either help him begin to recover or further traumatize him. Here are some tips:

  • Listen carefully and calmly, no matter how upset you are. You'll need to remember what your child tells you, so pay attention. And let your child know that he's being heard.
  • Assure your child that you're glad that he told you of the abuse, that it was in no way his fault, and that you will make sure it doesn't happen again. Encourage him to tell you everything, but avoid asking too many specific questions. Specific questions may mislead or confuse your child, or they may be asked in a way that prompts a particular answer. Later, this may seriously affect the ability of investigators to find out exactly what did or did not happen. If investigators can't determine that abuse has occurred, they can't protect your child.
  • Don't say anything bad about the perpetrator. He or she may be someone the child truly cares for. If you make threats, your child may feel the need to protect the person and not be as forthcoming with details.
  • If you think that your child wants to say more but is afraid, encourage him to tell his story to a favorite stuffed animal or doll while you listen. Or provide a tape recorder or telephone for the child to talk into. It may be easier for the child to talk to an inanimate object than to you or another person.

Your child will need medical care if he has been sexually molested or physically injured. Even if signs of abuse are not evident, it's best to err on the side of caution and take him to the doctor anyway. Above all, keep your child in safe environments and assume the allegation is true until proven otherwise.

The American Academy of Pediatrics' Committee on Hospital Care recommends that children who are suspected abuse victims be brought to a hospital, where the initial diagnosis can be made and treatment can be given. Hospitals are havens for abused children, especially battered children who may need imaging studies (X-rays) or cultures for a diagnosis to be made. Imaging can indicate broken bones, which are often the only sign that infants and young children have been abused, as they can't or won't speak of the abuse themselves.

Psychological help is also strongly recommended. Without it, children who have been abused tend to repeat the pattern of abuse with their own children. As adults, they have trouble establishing and maintaining close relationships and they are at greater risk for anxiety, depression, substance abuse, medical illness, and problems at work.

Reviewed by: Paul Robins, PhD
Date reviewed: August 2000

Source:  KidsHealth www.KidsHealth.com is a project of The Nemours Foundation which is dedicated to improving the health and spirit of children. Today, as part of its continuing mission, the Foundation supports the operation of a number of renowned children's health facilities throughout the nation, including the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware, and the Nemours Children's Clinics throughout Florida. Visit The Nemours Foundation to find out more about them and its health facilities for children http://www.nemours.org/no/