Which type of pain scale uses descriptors and no numbers?

Which type of pain scale uses descriptors and no numbers?

• A. Visual rating scale
• B. Number scale
• C. Visual analog scale
• D. Graphic rating

Answer: (A)

The concept here is how pain is described and quantified. A scale that relies on words to describe intensity—such as none, mild, moderate, severe—and does not show numeric values fits this item. This is the visual rating scale. It uses descriptive terms to categorize pain levels, so you’re selecting a category based on wording rather than assigning a numeric score. In contrast, a visual analog scale uses a continuous line with endpoints like “no pain” and “worst pain imaginable,” and its score is read numerically when measured, even though no numbers are printed on the line. A graphic rating scale often employs pictures or faces and can introduce nonverbal cues or vary in whether it uses plain descriptors or numbers. Hence, those options don’t align with the idea of using descriptors with no numbers.

The concept here is how pain is described and quantified. A scale that relies on words to describe intensity—such as none, mild, moderate, severe—and does not show numeric values fits this item. This is the visual rating scale. It uses descriptive terms to categorize pain levels, so you’re selecting a category based on wording rather than assigning a numeric score.

In contrast, a visual analog scale uses a continuous line with endpoints like “no pain” and “worst pain imaginable,” and its score is read numerically when measured, even though no numbers are printed on the line. A graphic rating scale often employs pictures or faces and can introduce nonverbal cues or vary in whether it uses plain descriptors or numbers. Hence, those options don’t align with the idea of using descriptors with no numbers.