Audioanalgesia is the relief of pain using white noise

White noise

White noise is a random signal with a flat power spectral density. In other words, the signal contains equal power within a fixed bandwidth at any center frequency...

 or music

Music

Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...

 without using pharmacological agents while doing painful medical procedures such as dental treatments. It was first introduced by Gardner and Licklider in 1959. There are many studies of its use in dental, obstetric, and palliative care contexts. The most recent review reports mixed results for effectiveness. This questionable pain management

Pain management

Pain management is a branch of medicine employing an interdisciplinary approach for easing the suffering and improving the quality of life of those living with pain. The typical pain management team includes medical practitioners, clinical psychologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists,...

strategy might prove useful in distraction and sensory confusion, but only when combined with actual pain relief medications. There is no research to suggest these dubious results will ever be effective other than as a means of self-distraction. This measure is similar to breathing exercises during cramps before administration of epidurals.