A research project funded by the Australian Childhood Foundation (ACF) is being conducted in Australian AKF facilities to evaluate the effectiveness of the Safe & Sound Protocol (SSP) in children with trauma histories. evaluate.
The study, entitled "The Listening Project: Tuning Into Change," funded by the Australian Childhood Foundation, was conducted in Australian facilities owned by that foundation. The goal was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) in children with trauma histories. The SSP, designed as a "neural exercise," focuses on reducing auditory hypersensitivities, improving auditory processing of speech and improving behavioral regulation. The protocol uses acoustic stimulation to exercise and normalize neural regulation of middle ear structures.
Main aspects of the study:
1. Purpose and Design:
- The study focuses on children between the ages of 7 and 14 receiving services from the Australian Childhood Foundation's Child Trauma Service unit.
- The study is an interventional study in which children were subjected to the SSP for approximately 45 minutes per day for 5 consecutive days.
2. Intervention:
- The SSP consists of listening to computer-controlled acoustic stimulation designed to modulate the frequency band of vocal music transmitted to the participant. This stimulation is aimed at recruiting and modulate the neural regulation of the middle ear muscles.
3. Evaluation criteria:
- The study has several primary and secondary outcome measures, including assessment of auditory hypersensitivity, autonomic state regulation, auditory processing, social behavior, and middle ear muscle transfer function.
4. Participants and Methods:
- The study involved a non-randomized parallel assignment of participants to an intervention group and a non-intervention assessment group.
5. Importance of the Study:
- This study provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of the SSP in improving auditory processing and behavioral regulation in children with trauma histories. It highlights the potential benefits of neural exercises in the treatment of trauma-related disorders.
Questions to Consider:
1. How effective is the Safe and Sound Protocol in reducing auditory hypersensitivities in children with trauma histories?
2. To what extent does the SSP contribute to improved autonomic regulation and auditory processing in participants?
3. What are the potential implications of these findings for the treatment of children with trauma-related disorders?
