Childhood trauma has profound impact on the emotional, behavioural, cognitive, social and physical functioning of children. Developmental experiences determine the organizational and functional status of the mature brain.

The impact of traumatic experiences on the development and function of the brain are discussed in context of basic principles of neurodevelopment. There are various adaptive mental and physical responses to trauma, including physiological hyperarousal and dissociation. Because the developing brain organizes and internalizes new information in a use-dependent fashion, the more a child is in a state of hyperarousal or dissociation, the more likely they are to have neuropsychiatric symptoms following trauma. The acute adaptive state can become persistent and maladaptive traits. The clinical implications of this new neurodevelopment conceptualization of childhood trauma are discussed.

Adults interpret the actions, words and expressions of children through the distorting filter of their own beliefs. In the lives of most infants and children these common adult misinterpretations are relatively benign. In many cases, however, these misinterpretations can be destructive. The most dramatic example occurs when the impact of traumatic events on infants and young children is minimized. It is an ultimate irony that at the time when the human is most vulnerable to the effects of trauma -- during infancy and childhood -- adults generally presume the most resilience.

This destructive misperception has permeated the mental health field. In the last ten years, our society has spent billions of dollars studying and treating adult trauma victims, primarily male combat veterans -- this despite the fact that many more females are traumatized by rape in our society than males by combat. In comparison, few resources have been dedicated to research or treatment focusing on childhood trauma, and only a fraction of those on studying or treating the traumatized infant.

Source: http://www.wikipedia.com