You know how when your child is in the hospital and in pain, we turn into mama or papa tigers and demand the docs and nurses do something about it? Well, a recent study unearthed another way parents can make their kids’ owies less ouchy.

Listening to Music and Stories Eases Pediatric Pain

A National Public Radio story described the study as follows:

The study involved 60 patients between 9 and 14 years old. All the patients were undergoing big operations that required them to stay in the hospital for at least a couple of days, things like orthopedic, urologic, or neurological surgery. Right after surgery, patients received narcotics to control pain. The next day they were divided into three groups. One group heard 30 minutes of music of their choice, one heard 30 minutes of stories of their choice, and one listened to 30 minutes of silence via noise canceling headphones.

And here’s what the study found:

After a 30-minute session, the children who listened to music or a book reduced their pain burden by 1 point on a 10-point scale compared to the children who listened to silence. That might not sound like much, but Sunitha Suresh says it’s the equivalent of taking an over-the-counter pain medication like Advil or Tylenol.

You will find the complete story and links to more information at To Ease Pain, Reach for Your Playlist to read or listen. And before the next trip to a children’s hospital with your child, load your phone, tablet, or iPod with lots of good listening!

What Do You Think of the Findings?

What do you think of the study and its findings about easing pediatric pain? Has listening to music or stories helped you or your child deal with pain after surgery? Leave a comment.

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