How can one tell if a child has been sexually abused?
The CCAC performs a “forensic interview” for each child. Trained social workers ask the child open-ended, non-leading questions while other investigators watch from behind a one-way mirror. If needed, a pediatrician can give a child a medical exam on-site, using a colposcope, a magnifying device that can detect tears or scars that are not otherwise visible. Although a medical examination is very important for sexual abuse victims, most children do not show medical evidence of abuse; this does not mean it did not happen. There is no one behavioral change that is a positive indicator of sexual abuse; they are very difficult to detect. Some children exhibit marked changes in behavior because of sexual abuse. They can become suddenly morose, withdrawn, or non-communicative. On the other hand, other children may not display any changes in behavior, and the abuse may be detected only because they disclose the abuse to a caring adult.
