Child maltreatment: a global issue.

PURPOSE This article explains why children with speech and language impairments are at increased risk for having experienced abuse, neglect, and trauma and how maltreatment may vary across cultures. METHOD International literature on maltreatment is reviewed in order to provide frameworks for identifying what constitutes maltreatment across cultures; how cultural variations in discipline practices impact maltreatment; and professionals' roles in treatment when they encounter children who have experienced abuse, neglect, or trauma. CONCLUSION Speech-language pathologists and audiologists are required to document and report any instance of suspected child abuse. To intervene effectively with children and families from diverse cultures who experience maltreatment, professionals must understand when a practice causes harm and be able to modify childrearing practices in culturally acceptable ways.