I am in mum in Derby that have been trying to get a Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) provider in my area. While on the SSP Facebook forum a service provider from Seattle said that she would be visiting family for 2 weeks (end of July, beginning of August) and that she would help us while she is over. I have the flyer with the information which I can email to who-ever is interested. If you don't know what it is - here is some information:
The SSP was develop by Dr. Stephen Porges at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine in his research lab. It has been tested and refined for over 15 years.
The Safe Sound Protocol (SSP) is a non- invasive intervention that involves listening to filtered music. It is for 1 hour per day over the course of 5 days. The music has been processed specifically to exercise the tiny stapedius muscle in the middle ear that plays a role in how we process speech, facial expressions, and other social cues. By exercising this muscle, if it is weak, children and adults who struggle to regulate their response to stress, emotions, or auditory information begin to feel a sense of safety and the ability to socially engage, instead of withdrawl.
The SSP is a research-based therapy that has shown significant results from immediately after treatment, for up to 8 weeks, in the following areas:
Social and emotional difficulties
Auditory sensitivities
Anxiety and trauma-related challenges
Inattention
Stressors that impact social engagement
Clients and parents are reporting the ability to better interpret not only human speech, but, importantly, the emotional meaning of language. Once interpersonal interactions improve, spontaneous social behaviors and an enhanced ability to learn, self-regulate, and engage are often seen and more successful learning.
There have been good results with clients who have learning and language challenges, inattention, hyperarousal, auditory processing difficulties, vestibular and tactile sensory over- responsivity, anxiety and poor state regulation. These features are seen in many conditions such as autism, ADD/ADHD, Down Syndrome, mild traumatic brain injury, Misophonia and experience with trauma or anxiety.
For more information: integratedlistening.com/ssp-safe-sound-protocol