Voices of the Children

Abstract

A number of abused children can ask for help in a firm direct manner and are able to describe their experiences clearly and coherently. But such youngsters are probably in the minority. Most are inhibited by the pressures described in the previous chapter. Moreover younger children do not have the command of language needed to communicate their distress in a straightforward manner. For these reasons the perspectives of the children are all too often ignored or misunderstood. Yet social workers and other professionals will fail to give effective help to children unless they can appreciate what the experience of abuse means for the victim. They also need to recognise how he or she may attempt to communicate that experience.