Child abuse in America is a persistent problem and something must be done. There are approximately one million children abused each year in the United States. (Table 339) Cases of child abuse and neglect are reported every ten seconds, and researchers estimate that three times as many go unnoticed. (Child Abuse: Know the Signs and Stop Violence Against Children.) Something must be done for these children who are too weak and too helpless to help themselves. Children who have been abused are left with more than just physical scars. They also have many psychological, emotional and behavioral problems. Their social life is considerably affected and they suffer consequences throughout their lives. (Lambert) Children tend to be emotionally disturbed years after the abuse, many have below average IQs, and some have even been classified as mentally retarded. Children who have been abused also show personality signs and neurological changes. (Oates 119) Sexual abuse has been associated with nightmares, bedwetting, sadness, clingy behavior, and anxiety. The children also showed more aggressive and antisocial behavior. (Oates 127) Adults who have been sexually assaulted 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 those effects carry over into their adult life. (Oates 135) Speech is significantly affected by abuse and neglect. More than a third of physically abused children have language delays. (Oates 119) All aspects of language are affected. Written and oral language is affected. The area in which children tend to have the most difficulty is pragmatics. They tend to be 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. September 8, 2007. The web. October 18, 2014..Oates, R. Kim. The specter of child abuse. 8. New York: Brunner/Mazel Inc., 1996. Palusci MD, MS, Vincent J. “Shaken Baby/Shaken Impact Syndrome.” Children's health for parents. August 2004. Nemours Foundation. Internet. October 18, 2014. http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/medical/brain/shaken.html Santrock, John W. Educational Phycology. Third. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2008. Lambert, Regina. Personal interview. Internet. October 13, 2014. “Table 339. Founded and Indicated Child Abuse and Neglect Cases – Victim Characteristics: 2000 to 2008” Web Census. October 18, 2014.https://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2011/tables/11s0339.pdf