A pain scale is a system of rating the level, magnitude or intensity of pain in order to quantify the individual's pain experience. This may include categorical items such as cartoon faces, simple classifications, and the assignment of numbers to the categories that rank in magnitude with the category descriptors. Depending on their levels of measurement and how they have been developed, category scale items (and summary scores derived from them) may only provide a measure of the grade of pain, rather than an absolute and accurate measure of differences in the magnitude of pain (scores at the interval or ratio level).

 Pain Assessment in Neonates