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Infants and toddlers (0 - 2 ½ Years) have developmental problems. They don't have much response to chaotic, loud, and harmful environments. They experience emotional withdrawal and low frustration tolerance. There are also physical problems with these children.
Pre-school children (3-6 Years) also have development problems, especially in language development. The child may be afraid to speak, and afraid of becoming the target of anger for speaking without approval. This is due, in part, to not being spoken to by adults or experiencing meaningful discussion with adults. The child cries easily and often. The child's world is so chaotic the child cannot handle ordinary stress. The child usually has not witnessed appropriate ways of dealing with stress and will act out aggressively toward peers and adults. The kid models the aggressive behavior observed in the home, and when playing with others. He will have an inability to play constructively. There is a lot of throwing or kicking, and possible destruction of toys. Many children have not been shown how to play and interact with others. Children are working out their frustration and worry in play. The child will show inconsistent or inappropriate display of emotions. Abuse can result in the child not learning appropriate emotional responses, as well as not being in touch with their true feelings. .
School-age children (7-11 Years) have poor school performances. The child finds studying and learning difficult because he cannot stop worrying about what happened at home the night before, or who is going to get hurt that night, or maybe even killed later on. The child will also have behavior problems with peers and adults; Because of the lack of observable appropriate interpersonal relationships, he has not learned appropriate ways to interact with others. The child may be crying out for help as the only way he can still keep the "family secret. " He may also show aggressive acting out which will become more severe and purposeful.