While not necessarily an indication of sexual abuse, abrupt changes in your child’s behavior should be looked into as they do indicate your child is in distress. If your child displays any of the following behaviors, there may be cause for concern:

• Displays sexual knowledge/behavior beyond her normal developmental stage. Talks about sexual acts she should not know about.
   
• Displays extreme behaviors, from a lack of emotion to aggressive and risk-taking behavior.
   
• Verbalizes what sexual contact looks or sounds like.
   
• Mimics adult-like sexual behavior with toys (e.g., dolls).
   
• Suddenly changes eating habits or refuses to eat.
   
• Acts out sexually and doesn’t respond to limits.
   
• Suddenly has nightmares or problems sleeping.
   
• Displays sudden, unexplained personality changes or mood swings; acts out or becomes withdrawn.
   
• Seems suddenly afraid to go certain places or spend time alone with a certain person.
   
• Starts having problems at school (e.g., lower grades).
   
• Becomes clingy, cries excessively, show signs of depression. An older child suddenly exhibits younger child behavior (e.g., bedwetting or thumb sucking).
   
• Suddenly wants to spend time with younger children.
   
• Refuses to talk about a secret shared with an adult/youth.
   
• Self injures (e.g., cutting, burning, attempting suicide), self medicates with drugs or alcohol, becomes sexually promiscuous, or runs away from home.
   
• Talks about a new older friend; suddenly has money, toys or other gifts without reason.

If your child displays one or more of these signs, consider any stressors in your child’s life (e.g., divorce, death, problems with friends) that could be the reason for these changes. If you are unclear about the cause and the behaviors happen over an extended period of time, you may want to seek professional advice.