Date of Award

6-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Doctor of Occupational Therapy

Department

Occupational Therapy

First Advisor

Katherine Jones EdD, OTR/L, CLT-LANA

Second Advisor

Briana Bonner OTD, OTR/L

Abstract

Introduction: Emotional regulation is a complex process that develops throughout one's lifetime. Emotional dysregulation can be due to an individual’s unbalanced physiological state leading the vagus nerve into a “fight or flight” mode (Auditory Processing Center, 2022). The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) targets the autonomic nervous system through filtered music to improve social-emotional functioning by bringing safety to the nervous system.

Methods: The purpose of this project is to evaluate the effect of the SSP on emotional regulation in children through the caregivers perspective. Participants were chosen if their child had difficulties with emotional regulation. They completed a caregiver education session to learn about the SSP, how to implement it at home, and completed the pre assessments, goal attainment scaling (GAS), the pediatric symptom checklist (PSC) and brain body center sensory scale (BBCSS). The children completed the SSP at home with a phone call check-in. Post listening, the participants completed the PSC, BBCSS and the GAS. All the goals created for the GAS were grouped into eight common themes regarding emotional regulation. The data was analyzed to determine the change pre- and post -listening.

Results: The data collected for the PSC, BBCSS and GAS all showed change from pre to post listening. 19 participants completed pre and post PSC and BBCSS while 20 completed the GAS. The p-value shows statistical significance for PSC and GAS. The PSC mean score from pre to post was 2.85, BBCSS was 6.52 and GAS was 7.5100. Out of the eight themed goals, all but one showed change from pre to post listening.

Discussion: The results of the study showed change in emotional regulation after listening to the SSP. Occupational therapists may use the SSP as a way to regulate the nervous system to improve emotional regulation and allow children to better participate in therapy.

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