Find Your ACE Score

What's Your ACE Score?

During the first 18 years of life:

1. Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often...
Swear at you, insult you, put you down, or humiliate you?
OR
Act in a way that made you afraid that you might be physically hurt?
Yes/No If yes enter 1 ____

2. Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often...
Push, grab, slap, or throw something at you?
OR
Ever hit you so hard that you had marks or were injured? Yes/No If yes enter 1 ____

3. Did an adult or person at least 5 years older than you ever...
Touch or fondle you or have you touch their body in a sexual way?
OR
Attempt or actually have oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse with you?
Yes/No If yes enter 1 ____

4. Did you often or very often feel that...
No one in your family loved you or thought you were important or special?
OR
Your family didn't look out for each other, feel close to each other, or support each other?
Yes/No If yes enter 1 ____

5. Did you often or very often feel that...
you didn't have enough to eat, had to wear dirty clothers, and had no one to protect you?
OR
Your parents were too drunk or high to take care of you or take you to the doctor if you needed it? Yes/No If yes enter 1 ____

6. Were you parents ever separated or divorced?
Yes/No If yes enter 1 ____

7. Was your mother or stepmother:
Often or very often pushed, grabbed, slapped, or had something thrown at her?
OR
Sometimes, often, or very often kicked, bitten, hit with a fist, or hit with something hard?
OR
Ever repeatedly hit at least a few minutes or threatened with a gun or knife?
Yes/No If yes enter 1 ____

8. Did you live with anyone who was a problem drinker, or alcoholic, or who used street drugs?
Yes/ No If yes enter 1 ____

9.Was a household member depressed or mentally ill, or did a household member attempt suicide? Yes/No If yes enter 1 ____

10. Did a household member go to prison?
Yes/No If yes enter 1 ____

Now add up your "Yes" answers: _______. This is you ACE score.

If your ACE score is 4 or over, you are at significant risk of future health problems. However... the good news is you can take steps now to minimise the negative effects of ACEs.

The Effects of Abuse Can Last a lifetime

Few children, if any, wake up one morning and say, "I think I'll live a life filled with depression and drug abuse. I think I'll beat myself up emotionally and ruin my life with alcohol and drugs. I'll fill my life with stress and problems and then pass them on to my children so their lives will be ruined too."

What Then Is the Cause?
Abuse, neglect, and living in a dysfunctional household produces pressures on children that can last a lifetime. A child cannot stand back and objectively see the physical and emotional effects an abusive parent has on them. The adversity an abused child endures can physically affect their ability to respond to stressful situations. Anger is often the response, and if not anger, then anxiety and depression are the result.

To cope with childhood stress adults often make childish choices. Smoking, drinking, drugs, sexual promiscuity, are all behaviors that can result in long-term physical and emotional problems. If not overcome, the abuse experienced as a child can result in disease, disability, social problems and early death.