Aims: To characterise the cognitive, motor, and language skills of toddlers an d preschoolers who had been physically abused and to obtain concurrent MRIs of t he brain. Methods: A between groups design was used to compare a sample of 19 ch ildren, aged 14-77 months, who had been hospitalised for physical abuse with no evidence of neurological injury to a comparison group of 19 children matched for age and socioeconomic status. Children underwent cognitive, language, and motor testing within three months of their discharge from the hospital. Caregive rs of the injured children were interviewed and were asked to complete questionn aires to characterise the child’s developmental level and behaviour just prior to the hospitalisation. Results: Children who had been physically abused scored significantly lower than the comparison group on measures of cognitive functioni ng, motor skills, and language skills. The groups did not differ in child behavi our ratings completed by the caregivers. MRI of the brain was performed for 15 c hildren in the physical abuse group; two were found to have significant cerebral atrophy. Conclusions: Children who have been physically abused are at high risk for delays in cognitive, motor, and language development. Standard of care for these children should include developmental testing as well as neuroimaging of t he brain to detect occult brain injury. Aims: To characterise the cognitive, motor, and language skills of toddlers an d preschoolers who had been abused and to obtain concurrent MRIs of t he brain. Methods: A between groups design was used to compare a sample of 19 ch ildren, aged 14-77 months, who had been hospitalized for physical abuse with no evidence of neurological injury to a comparison group of 19 children matched for age and socioeconomic status. Children underwent cognitive, language, and motor testing within three months of their discharge from the hospital Caregive rs of the injured children were interviewed and were asked to complete questionn aires to characterise the child’s developmental level and behavior just prior to the hospitalization. Results: Children who had been physically abused scored significantly lower than the comparison group on measures of cognitive functioni ng, motor skills, and language skills. The groups did not differ in child behavi us ratings completed by the caregivers. MRI of the brain was performed for 15 c hildren in the physical abuse group; two were found to have significant cerebral atrophy. Conclusions: Children who have been abused are at high risk for delays in cognitive, motor, and language development. Standard of care for these children should include developmental testing as well as neuroimaging of t he brain to detect occult brain injury.