Synopsis:

This protocol was developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, based on his Polyvagal Theory. SSP was originally a 5-hour sound-based (auditory) intervention calming the physiological and emotional states. This is derived from 4 decades of research on the relationship between the autonomic nervous system and socio-emotional processes.

SSP is a researched-based intervention showing significant results in the following areas:

• Social & emotional difficulties
• Auditory sensitivities
• Anxiety & trauma-related challenges
• Inattention
• Stressors that impact social engagement

SSP was designed to reduce stress and auditory sensitivity, enhancing social engagement and resilience.  This intervention can boost or accelerate other therapies such as counseling, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. 

This intervention is known as passive, meaning that the client can benefit from just listening as long as the client feels calm and safe, focusing on the music.
 

SSP brings the client from a state of hyperarousal (fight or flight, defensiveness, cautious or nervousness) to a feeling of safety or calmness.  What you hear and how you hear it, influences how the body responds to situations.
 

SSP is designed to stimulate the nervous system by exercising and systematically challenging the auditory system with specifically processed or filtered music.  This intervention uses prosodic music that has been filtered to train the middle ear muscles to focus on the frequency found in human speech…which leads to improved connection, communication, and therapies. The music trains the auditory pathways by focusing on the frequency of human speech.  At times, the music may sound quiet or difficult to hear – this is due to the filtering that occurs and that lower frequencies have been eliminated.   
 

As the client learns to process speech-related frequencies they improve the functioning of two cranial nerves.   First, the Cranial nerve VII helps focus on the human voice and tune out irrelevant frequencies. Cranial nerve X enables autonomic nervous system regulation. When the client’s hyperarousal state (fight or flight) is decreased, their social engagement system can work properly. In essence, SSP aims to calm the child’s/adult’s nervous system so that the client can be more socially engaged.
 

Studies suggest that attention, state regulation, and the ability to engage socially are improved. Following the SSP Protocol, ideally, children will be better able to focus in school, therapy, and daily life as they experience a calmed emotional and physiological state. The research of various clinical trials shows that many neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions share common behavioral features such as compromised social engagement system, over-aroused autonomic nervous system, and auditory hypersensitivity or difficulty filtering out background sounds or noises in order to tune into the human voice.

The state of calmness or self-regulation allows clients to have a better ability to listen, stay focused, and engage with others socially. These clients are able to take in and process what is needed to keep up with social situations. The polyvagal theory shares its the perception of difficulties that our children have with social interactions and processing speech. It states that when the child’s emotional state is stressed, the nervous system is working overtime to regulate or settle down. This then affects the client’s ability to notice or learn details that accompany social interactions such as reading emotions or processing language.

Why?
 

Many people will ask why Safe and Sound Protocol?
We strongly believe that our clients make quicker progress and make greater gains when combining SSP with other services such as Speech and Language, Occupational Therapy, Counseling, Trauma therapy, tutoring, etc.  This protocol has made a huge difference in many of the listeners we have worked with. 
 

Stress, trauma, and other situations can overload our nervous system leaving us in a state of fight/flight/freeze, which impacts our physical health as well as how we interact with others and our emotional wellbeing. ILS/UNYTE shares that there can be some improvements in:
 

• Spontaneous speech
• Hearing sensitivity
• Emotional regulation
• ANS regulation
• Increase in social engagement

3 Pathways:

Since the release of Dr. Porges’s original Safe and Sound Protocol the research, experiences, and insight of the Safe and Sound Protocol community has contributed to adding more support for families. 

1) SSP Connect (Classical):

Provides a gentle and “safe” introduction when needed.  The playlist consists of classical music curated to be calming, and grounding. For more sensitive clients, or those with a highly dysregulated nervous system, this is the recommended first step

2) SSP CORE: The traditional 5-hour listening protocol

3) SSP Balance:
Families can begin 8 weeks after SSP core. This is largely unsupervised and can be used at home.  Used to extend and integrate the gains from SSP.  Same playlist as SSP CORE, but filtered differently with a lighter frequency modulation algorithm. Can also be used as ongoing daily support for clients who need it, many find it calming and grounding. This is also used as a “warm-up” before the SSP CORE booster.