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It is a tough job—to listen to children recount abuse.

"It can be intimidating for a child to talk about something they feel they might've caused," Counselor Roxanne Trevino said.

Some abuse can span over year and other just months—but no matter how long it still can have a lasting effect on a child.

Sergeant Lupita Valdez with the Alamo Police Department said, when it comes to investigation sexual abuse cases they often hit road blocks when a child becomes closed off.

"Someone has already violated their trust,” Valdez started. “How do you explain what happened to you to another stranger?"

That is when they enlist the help of people like Roxanne—who try their best to get the child talk about the abuse.

But Roxanne admits that is not always easy.

"A lot of children, they won't disclose until they feel comfortable and that someone will protect them."

Many parents, she said, do not ever talk to their children about sexual abuse.

So when the abuse happens—many children do not know how to react.

"It's good to talk to them about the signs or dangers of getting close to somebody who might be older than they are--something could lead to sexual abuse."

Roxanne said open up those lines of communication early on.

That way the child knows what is and is not acceptable behavior.

She added, if a parent suspects that their child might be the victim of abuse they need to simply ask that child.

But, make sure to use terms the child understands and make the child comfortable about speaking out….let them know it is ok.