Which pain assessment scale is commonly used for non-verbal children?

• A. FACES scale
• B. Numeric Rating Scale
• C. Visual Analog Scale
• D. FLACC scale

Answer: (D)

Non-verbal children can’t report their pain, so clinicians rely on observational scales to gauge their distress. The FLACC scale assesses five observable domains—Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability—with each domain scored 0 to 2, for a total of 0 to 10. This approach is specifically designed for infants and young children who cannot communicate their pain, making it a common and reliable choice in pediatrics. It captures cues such as facial grimacing, restless leg movement, overall activity level, crying, and how easily the child can be Consoled, providing a structured way to quantify pain and guide analgesia. Other scales require the child to self-report or make judgments about pain intensity (like choosing a face or marking a line), which isn’t feasible for non-verbal children, so they’re less appropriate in this context.