Madam - Prof William Reville's column (Nov 3rd) was misleading in its portrayal of the risk posed by the use of anatomical dolls in assessing child sexual abuse.
He noted that research by developmental psychologists informs us that young children do not view objects symbolically in the same manner that adults do.
He raised valid questions about whether this has the potential to lead to inaccurate reports of child sexual abuse if anatomical dolls are used while interviewing young children.
However, professionals trained in the field of child interviewing use recognised guidelines and have a number of tools that minimise the risk of inaccurate findings when using anatomical dolls or other means of communicating with children.
Prof Reville's column highlights the fact that interviewing children about allegations of child sexual abuse is a highly specialised skill that requires understanding of a broad range of issues, including many aspects of child development.
In Ireland, a number of trained and experienced professionals specialise in the area of child sexual abuse assessment.
These professionals are guided by a considerable body of research, including that cited by Prof Reville, so that interviews lead to the most accurate and complete reports possible.
The use of anatomical dolls has been well researched, leading to the development of clear guidelines on their use. A properly trained professional in this field would not make inappropriate assumptions about their use, as was suggested by Prof Reville.
Rather, a young child would be interviewed in a manner appropriate to his or her developmental level, which under certain circumstances may include careful use of anatomical dolls if appropriate. This reduces the likelihood of inaccurate or incomplete accounts.
When a child makes allegations of sexual abuse, it is important that he or she be interviewed by a professional with specialised training and support as soon as possible. In cases of suspected child sexual abuse, a referral should be made to local social work departments in the Health Service Executive. - Yours, etc,
Dr TOBY SACHSENMAIER, St Finbarr's Hospital, Cork.
Dr ELIZABETH WALSH, Community Child Centre, Waterford.