Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)
The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is a protocol we love to use at our clinic. This protocol helps children (and even adults) with their state of control. It has been shown in the research to improve social and emotional difficulty, auditory sensitivity, anxiety and trauma related challenges, inattention, and social engagement.
- What is it?
SSP is a set of specifically formulated music that your child will listen to while wearing an air conduction headset. They will be able to participate in enjoyable seated activities in a quiet room while they listen to the music.
- How long does it take?
The research has demonstrated best results with SSP when it is done for one hour on 5, consecutive days.
- How does it work?
The SSP was created by Dr. Porges after nearly four decades of research and is based on Dr. Porges’ Polyvagal Theory. This theory looks at the relationship between the autonomic nervous system and social-emotional processes. The SSP stimulates nervous system regulation with the specifically processed music. The music trains the auditory system to focus on certain frequencies of speech, most importantly, the frequency of human speech. The music stimulates two Cranial Nerves (VII and X), which function to increase attention to human speech and tune out background noise and to stimulate self-soothing.
- What can I expect after SSP?
According to the SSP website and experience in our practice, “Following successful completion of the intervention, individual will be better able to focus in school, therapy, and everyday life and experience a clamed emotional and physiological state.”
At our clinic, we have had parents report “improved eye contact”, “increased speech”, “increased social interaction”, “happier child”, “decreased anger”, “improved play with others” and “improved attention”.
To read more about SSP, visit their website: