How do we define "abuse" when discussing child abuse? “Abuse” means the treatment of a person or animal with cruelty or violence, especially when this occurs regularly and repeatedly.” When you add “child” it becomes “child abuse.” “Child abuse” is defined as “physical abuse or sexual molestation of a child.” (Oxford Dictionary online). “Child abuse” can also be defined as “a crime of physical or emotional injury inflicted on a child. And the term can denote the excessive use of physical violence or verbal abuse: the failure to provide adequate shelter, nourishment, medical care, or emotional support. (Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Encyclopedia 2000) Child abuse and neglect is a hidden epidemic facing children nationwide. . Since 1995, the number of deaths caused by child abuse has grown at record numbers. All children have had their difficult experiences before becoming adults. Children are confronted with dangerous things in their surroundings every day. These events that could seriously affect them for life, both mentally and emotionally. “In 2005 alone, out of 3.6 million investigations conducted by ChildProtective Services agencies in the United States, an estimated 899,000 children (24.97%) were victims of child abuse.” (childhelp 2009) There are 4 typical types of child abuse: neglect, physical, sexual and emotional. Neglect is where a child's needs lie... at the heart of the paper... about 3 million child abuse reports annually. Childhelp has developed the above child abuse prevention guidelines to prevent your child, or a child in your care, from becoming another statistic. (Childhelp 2009) Works Cited Child Abuse. (n.d.). In the Oxford Dictionary. Child abuse. (n.d.). In Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Encyclopedia. Barrionuevo, A. and Bonnefoy, P. (2011, February 18). Chilean priest found guilty of child abuse. New York Times.Abuse. (n.d.). In the Oxford Dictionary.Childhelp. (2009). Child abuse in America. In National Child Abuse StatisticsChild Abuse in America. Retrieved from http://www.childhelp.org