N/A
N=8
The Listening Program® With Bone Conduction Headphones Changes Hypersensitivity to Sound and Behavioral Responses
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Bottom Line
View on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05009095 ↗Enrolled (actual)
8
Serious AEs
0.0%
Results posted
Feb 2026
Primary outcome: Primary: Change From Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, Third Edition Score (ABAS-3) Score — 71.00; 72.00; 73.83 score on a scale
Study Design & Population
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- N/A
- Interventions
- The Listening Program® with bone conduction headphones (Device)
- Age
- Pediatric · 5+ yrs
- Sex
- All
- Sponsor
- Children's Health
- Primary completion
- Jun 2024
Outcome Measures
| Outcome | Result | p-value |
|---|---|---|
| PRIMARY Change From Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, Third Edition Score (ABAS-3) Score |
71.00; 72.00; 73.83 | — |
| SECONDARY Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory Computer Adaptive Test With ASD Scales (PEDI-CAT (ASD)) |
53.83; 56.00; 56.50; 61.17; 64.50; 62.84 | — |
Summary
There are limited approaches to specifically address auditory sensory over- and under-responsivity (SOR) in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Exposure therapy (or systematic desensitization) may be a treatment option; researchers are investigating this approach. Many children receive sensory integration therapy, but this approach does not specifically target auditory SOR. Some families are advised to have their children avoid noxious stimuli or use compensatory techniques such as wearing headphones or ear plugs. While preliminary research suggests that use of noise attenuating headphones may reduce sympathetic activation for children with ASD and auditory SOR, this approach does not seek to change or alter the underlying cause of sympathetic activation (Pfeiffer et al., 2019).
Sound-based interventions are promising options to treat hyperacusis and subsequent auditory SOR in children with ASD. The objective of this study is to investigate changes in adaptive life skills and behavioral responses in children with ASD using Advanced Brain Technology's The Listening Program ® Spectrum music utilizing Waves ™ (bone conduction) headphones.
Our study will investigate the effects of a sound-based intervention developed in 2012 to specifically address the needs of children with ASD and children with hyperacusis and/or auditory SOR - The Listening Program® Spectrum music utilizing Waves™ (bone conduction) headphones by Advanced Brain Technologies. This program emphasizes low frequency music over an extended period of time; the duration recommended by Advanced Brain Technologies is 40 weeks.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- Children will be eligible to participate in this study if they are:
- Between the ages of 5 and 10 years old
- Diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder
- Auditory SOR defined by "Some Problems or Definite Dysfunction" on the Hearing section on the Sensory Processing Measure Home Form.
- Caregiver must be available to supervise listening sessions at home
- English Speaking
Exclusion Criteria
- Children will be excluded from the study if they are:
a. Diagnosed with seizure disorder b. Hearing impairments c. Cerebral palsy d. Fragile X syndrome or genetic disease e. Previous use of a listening base system f. Non-English speakers
Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05009095). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication.