According
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as of 2009, approximately
702,000 children were maltreated, and numerous other child abuse cases go
unreported each year (as cited in Klika & Herrenkhol, 2013, p. 222). Klika
and Herrenkhol (2013), identify a variety of short and long-term effects of
childhood trauma (ie. physical, emotional/psychological, sexual abuse and
neglect) can be observed across the lifespan, and are “in some cases, severe
and long-lasting” (p.222).
Behavioral and Developmental Effects of
Trauma
Without help and support, children often develop a variety
of negative coping responses to traumatic stress. A child’s response to
traumatic stress may manifest across multiple domains of functioning and developmental
processes, including emotional, behavioral, interpersonal, physiological, and
cognitive functioning.
Trauma
· Can alter biological stress systems and adversely effect brain development, cognitive and academic skills, and language acquisition
· Changes in the levels of stress hormones similar
to those seen in combat veterans
· Undermines brain development and affects
different areas of the brain at different stages of development
· Can have serious consequences for the normal
development of a child's brain, brain chemistry, and nervous system
Attachment
Attachment
· Traumatized children feel that the world is
uncertain and unpredictable
· Their relationships can be characterized by
problems with:
o Boundaries
o Distrust
o Suspiciousness
· As a result, traumatized children can become
socially isolated and have difficulty relating to and empathizing with others
Biology
Biology
· Traumatized children demonstrate biologically
based challenges, including:
o Problems with movement and sensation
o Hypersensitivity to physical contact
o Insensitivity to pain
· They can have problems with:
o Coordination
o Balance
o Body tone
o Unexplained physical symptoms
o Increased medical problems (e.g., asthma, skin
problems, and autoimmune disorders)
Mood Regulation
· Children exposed to trauma can have difficulty regulating their emotions. One of the signs to look for is whether a child has the ability to self soothe or exhibit coping skills
· Children have difficulty:
o Knowing / Identifying feelings
o Describing feelings and internal states
o Describing wishes and desires to others
o Regulating his/her mood
o Showing coping skills
Dissociation
· Some traumatized children experience a feeling of detachment or depersonalization, as if they are “observing” something happening to them that is unreal
· They can also withdraw from the outside world or
demonstrate amnesia-like states
Behavioral Control
Behavioral Control
·Traumatized children can demonstrate:
o Poor impulse control
o Self-destructive behavior
o Aggression towards others
o A heightened awareness of potential dangers to
themselves or others
· Traumatized children can also manifest child
traumatic stress through:
o Bodily reactions such as fast heart rates,
churning stomachs or sweatiness
o Sleep disturbances including dreams of the
events that have occurred
o Eating disorders
Cognition
· Traumatized children can have problems:
o Focusing on and completing tasks
o Planning for and anticipating future events
o Understanding their own contribution to what
happens to them
· Some traumatized children demonstrate:
o Learning difficulties
o Problems with language development
Self-Concept
· Traumatized children can experience the lack of a continuous, predictable sense of self
· May develop a stutter
· Traumatized children frequently suffer from:
o Disturbed body image
o Low self-esteem
o Shame
o Guilt