ACE = Adverse Childhood Experience
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?
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? If yes enter 1 ________
3. Did an adult 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?
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? If yes enter 1 ________
5. Did you often or very often feel that … You didn’t have enough to eat, had to wear dirty clothes, 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? If yes enter 1 ________
6. Were your parents ever separated or divorced? 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? If yes enter 1 ________
8. Did you live with anyone who was a problem drinker or alcoholic or who used street drugs?
If yes enter 1 ________
9. Was a household member depressed or mentally ill, or did a household member attempt suicide?
If yes enter 1 ________
10. Did a household member go to prison?
If yes enter 1 _______
Now add up your “Yes” answers: _______ This is your ACE Score.
8 comments
Five and here I am decades later in therapy and on this site. Numerous attempts.
7
Three. That seems low, which means I’m just a big ***** for no real reason.
All but one. But to be fair, two of those applied to my parents, not the people who actually raised me. So I guess it’s more like 7.
And when I say all but one, I mean all but one of them. Not all but number one.
3
5 but I doesn’t matter to them
3