Age-related changes in the facial expression of pain during the first 18 months of life have important implications for our understanding of pain and pain assessment. We examined facial reactions video recorded during routine immunization injections in 75 infants stratified into 2-, 4-, 6-, , and month age groups. Two facial coding systems differing in the amount of detail extracted were applied to the records. In addition, parents completed a brief questionnaire that assessed child temperament and provided background information. Parents' efforts to soothe the children also were described. While there were consistencies in facial displays over the age groups, there also were differences on both measures of facial activity, indicating systematic variation in the nature and severity of distress.

Even seasoned parents can find it tough to tell the difference between a baby in pain and a baby who is hungry. But now a face-recognition system is being developed that could help lift the veil on infant communication and allow us to know when babies are genuinely experiencing pain. If it proves successful, this kind of software could be used in neonatal intensive-care units NICU to help alert medical staff when an infant becomes seriously distressed, says Sheryl Brahnam , an information scientist at Missouri State University at Springfield. Such pain scales take into account a variety of factors, including body posture, blood pressure, and sensitivity to touch, as well as facial expression.

I stayed with my parents for a few days, telling them I needed some time to think after having a fight with Jason. After a week or so, I told Jason that I was ready to talk about things. We agreed that we should see a marriage counsellor who could possibly point us in the right direction of how to handle this situation. Yes, of course it was strange beyond words to see my husband wearing my favourite Zara top but what bothered me more was that he hid this from me.