Child abuse in America is an ongoing problem and something needs to be done. Every year in the United States, approximately one million children are victims of abuse. (Table 339) Cases of child abuse and neglect are reported every ten seconds, and researchers believe there are three times as many that go unnoticed. (Child Abuse: Know the Signs and Stop Violence Against Children.) Something must be done for these children who are too weak and helpless to help themselves. Children who have suffered abuse are left with more than physical scars. They also have many psychological, emotional and behavioral problems. Their social lives are dramatically affected and suffer lifelong effects. (Lambert) Children tend to be emotionally disturbed years after the abuse, many have lower than average IQ scores, and some have even been classified as mentally retarded. Children who have been abused also show signs of personality and neurological changes. (Oates 119) Sexual abuse has been linked to nightmares, bed-wetting, sadness, attachment behavior, and anxiety. The children also showed more aggressive and antisocial behavior. (Oates 127) Adults who have experienced sexual abuse are more prone to depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and drug or alcohol problems. (Oates 132-133) Studies show overwhelming evidence of the effects that abuse can have on a child and how the effects continue into their adult lives. (Oates 135) Language is dramatically affected by abuse and neglect. Over a third of children who are physically abused have speech delays. (Oates 119) All aspects of language are affected. Written and oral language are affected. The area in which children tend to show the most difficulty is pragmatics. They tend to be l...... middle of paper ...... g/topics/humanserv/child_abuse/Layman, Richard. Child abuse. Detroit, MI: Omnigraphics Inc., 1991.Moses MD, Scott. "Child abuse". Family practice notebook. 08 September 2007. Web. 18 October 2014..Oates, R. Kim. The specter of child abuse. 8. New York: Brunner/Mazel Inc., 1996. Palusci MD, MS, Vincent J.. “Shaken Baby Syndrome/Shaken Impact Syndrome.” Children's health for parents. August 2004. Nemours Foundation. Network. October 18, 2014.http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/medical/brain/shaken.htmlSantrock, John W. Educational Psychology. Third. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2008.Lambert, Regina. Personal interview. Network. 13 October 2014. "Table 339. Cases of abuse and neglect of minors proven and indicated: characteristics of the victims: from 2000 to 2008" Census Web. 18 October 2014. https://www.census.gov/compendia/statab /2011/tables/11s0339.pdf