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Cited by 43Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchHearing, Cochlea, Tinnitus, GeneticsChild Nutrition and Feeding Issues

Reducing Auditory Hypersensitivities in Autistic Spectrum Disorder: Preliminary Findings Evaluating the Listening Project Protocol

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Porges, Stephen W., Bazhenova, Olga V., Bal, Elgiz, Carlson, Nancy, Sorokin, Yevgeniya, Heilman, Keri J., Cook, Edwin H., Lewis, Gregory F.·2014·Frontiers in Pediatrics
DOI 10.3389/fped.2014.00080PMC PMC4117928
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Abstract

Auditory hypersensitivities are a common feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In the present study, the effectiveness of a novel intervention, the listening project protocol (LPP), was evaluated in two trials conducted with children diagnosed with ASD. LPP was developed to reduce auditory hypersensitivities. LPP is based on a theoretical "neural exercise" model that uses computer altered acoustic stimulation to recruit the neural regulation of middle ear muscles. Features of the intervention stimuli were informed by basic research in speech and hearing sciences that has identified the specific acoustic frequencies necessary to understand speech, which must pass through middle ear structures before being processed by other components of the auditory system. LPP was hypothesized to reduce auditory hypersensitivities by increasing the neural tone to the middle ear muscles to functionally dampen competing sounds in frequencies lower than human speech. The trials demonstrated that LPP, when contrasted to control conditions, selectively reduced auditory hypersensitivities. These findings are consistent with the polyvagal theory, which emphasizes the role of the middle ear muscles in social communication.

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  • The Safe and Sound Protocol stimulates the ventral vagal complex to calm autonomic state, improve auditory processing, and stimulate spontaneous social behavior.

    “The Safe and Sound Protocol™ stimulates the ventral vagal complex to calm autonomic state, improve auditory processing, and stimulate spontaneous social behavior [[26], [27], [28], [29]].”

    From The vagal paradox: A polyvagal solution (2023) · cites this paper as [27]

    The Discussion (Summary of findings and other research evaluating LPP; page unavailable) reports preliminary support for improved auditory processing, increased vagal regulation of the heart, and more spontaneous social behavior after the Listening Project Protocol. The Introduction (Designing the listening project protocol; page unavailable) describes proposed neural mechanisms and says researchers provided support to keep participants calm. Our copy does not establish that the protocol directly stimulates the ventral vagal complex to calm autonomic state, or identify it as the Safe and Sound Protocol™. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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Sorted by citations

Authors
Porges, S. W., Bazhenova, O. V., Bal, E., Carlson, N., Sorokin, Y., Heilman, K. J., Cook, E. H., & Lewis, G. F.
Affiliations
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
  • University of Illinois Chicago (US)
  • Elizabethtown College (US)
Corresponding author
Porges, Stephen W.
ORCID
Venue
Frontiers in Pediatrics
Publisher
Frontiers Media SA
Published
2014-08-01
Volume
2
Pages
80-80
ISSN
2296-2360 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3389/fped.2014.00080
PMC
PMC4117928
OpenAlex
W2014363359
Cited by
43
References
4
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 3
FWCI
1.49
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Frontiers in Pediatrics (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Carolina Digital Repository (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • UNC Libraries
Funders
  • Autism Speaks
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute of Mental Health (MH060625, R01MH060625)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Hearing, Cochlea, Tinnitus, Genetics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
Keywords
auditory hypersensitivity, autism spectrum disorder, middle ear muscles, polyvagal theory, children, social communication

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