A mother-of-nine has been accused of punishing two of her adopted children who have special needs by shocking them with an electric dog collar.

The 52-year-old woman, who has not been identified to protect her children's identities, was charged on Wednesday in court in Cache County, Utah with abuse of a disabled child and abuse of a vulnerable adult after the allegedly cruel treatment of her daughter, 17, and son, 20.

All of the woman's nine children are adopted, authorities said.

They became aware of the alleged abuse after the teenage girl, who has special needs, told student aids at her school that her mother used a 'behavior band' on her.

They asked her to explain the band and she drew them an image of a collar resembling one used to give dogs an electric shock for disobeying, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.

'She explained her mom put it on her [arm] when she's acting up or when she hits one of her siblings,' Deputy Cache County Attorney Andrew McAdams.

'She also disclosed that her 20-year-old brother, also a disabled adult, also adopted, that [their mother] puts it on him as well.'

The following day, the teenager returned to the school to tell teachers she had made up the story - before eventually breaking down and revealing her mother had allegedly made her lie.

She added that her mother is trying to adopt yet another child and had told the daughter that she was ruining her chances, McAdams said.

McAdams said there no indication the collar has been used on the seven other children.

The Division of Child and Family Services has a pending case into the family.

She has been charged with abuse or neglect of a disabled child, abuse of a vulnerable adult, child abuse and tampering with a witness. If convicted of the felony, she could face five years in prison.