Additional considerations when assessing pain in children and adolescents

This section provides specific advice on assessing pain in children and adolescents and should be considered alongside the general approach to assessing pain described in this topic.

All children (including very premature neonates) have the capacity to feel pain. It is important to assess their pain because unrecognised and untreated pain can interrupt a child’s sleep, learning and functioning, and lead to anxiety about, or avoidance of, future medical or dental care.

A child’s ability to self-report pain severity changes throughout developmental stages. Select an age- and context-appropriate pain scale (eg FLACC behavioural scale¹, Faces Pain Scale-Revised². Combine information from the child’s self-report and behaviour, with collateral history from their parents or carers. Developing rapport with parents or carers improves children’s trust and willingness to communicate.