How Does Autism Affect the Processing of Child Sexual Abuse Trauma?

• Main Authors: Jose Carbajal, Regina T. Praetorius
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ralph W. Steen Library, Stephen F. Austin State University 2020-02-01
• Series: Journal of Human Services: Training, Research, and Practice
• Online Access: https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1074&context=jhstrp

Children in general are a vulnerable population, but children with neurodevelopmental disorders are even more vulnerable. This case study, which uses secondary qualitative data to focus on a survivor of sexual abuse who has autism, explores how a child with autism interprets and processes being sexually abused. We contrast how a child with autism experiences child sexual abuse with the experiences of children without autism; major differences emerged in terms of how a child with autism normalizes and interprets sexual abuse. The findings of this study indicate mental health professionals need more training regarding the complications autism adds to the experience of childhood sexual abuse. Further research is needed on the effects of child sexual abuse and autism and on how best to treat the aftermath of child sexual abuse in children with autism