Implications for practice
- Given the delay in language, both receptive and expressive, in neglected / emotionally abused children, it is essential that all practitioners working with pre-school children are trained in normal child development
- Important attachment disorders are recognised in young infants and toddlers and warrant formal evaluation by professionals trained in infant mental health, as many features described in neglected / emotionally abused children overlap with those found in children suffering from autistic spectrum disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- Careful observation and recording of the infant-carer interaction will help to identify neglected / emotionally abused toddlers at an early stage, enabling appropriate assessment and intervention
- There are clearly identifiable features in the pre-school child who is being neglected and / or emotionally abused, thus it is incumbent upon all health practitioners working with these children to be aware of the indicators that they may identify
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