safe sound protocol
How Does It Work?
The SSP is a 5-day intervention designed to reduce stress and auditory sensitivity while enhancing social engagement and
resilience. By calming the physiological and emotional state, the door is opened for improved communication and more successful therapy. Emotional and physiological state are critical to how we approach the task at hand. So when a person has better state control, not only can they be more socially engaged, they are
more open to therapy. Better state regulation improves therapeutic outcomes.
This non-invasive intervention involves listening to music which retunes the nervous system (regulating state) to introduce a sense of safety and the ability to socially engage. This allows the person 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.
The vocal music used in the Safe and Sound Protocol has been filtered to train the middle ear muscles to focus in on the frequency of human speech. This helps children interpret not only the “meaning” of words spoken, but also the “intent” in conversations. It helps reduce the stress of background noise and increase a sense of safety achieved by better understanding the fluctuations in human voice.
safe sound protocol
Is the SSP Evidence Based Theory?
Based on Dr. Porges’ Polyvagal Theory, the program is derived from 4 decades of peer reviewed research on the relationship between the autonomic nervous system and social-emotional processes. It is designed to stimulate nervous system regulation by exercising and systematically challenging the auditory system with specifically processed music.

The music trains the auditory pathways by focusing on the frequency envelope of human speech. As the person learns to process these speech-related frequencies, they improve the functioning of two cranial nerves that are important for promoting overall social behavior:
– Cranial Nerve VII (Facial Nerve) helps clients focus on human voice and tune out irrelevant “predator” frequencies.
– Cranial Nerve X (Vagus Nerve) enables self soothing and autonomic regulation of the body’s “rest and digest” system
More articles, interviews and Videos: stephenporges.com/bibliography
safe sound protocol
What Does It Do?
The Safe and Sound Protocol strengthens and regulates the middle ear muscles to:
- Dampen background noise and improve perception of human speech.
- Affect the Facial and Vagus nerves that control facial expressions, vocal intonations, gestures, and promote a state of relaxation.

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Location: 3602 Everett Ave
Everett, WA 98201
Telephone: (425) 252-9908
Fax: (425) 259-6317