Vagus Nerve and Autism: What Parents Need to Know

We all know a child who needs a little more support from adults. They may take a long time to fall asleep in the evening, require extra reassurance after becoming upset, or need some time to return to tasks they struggle with. When children have trouble managing their emotions or completing basic tasks, it can be difficult for parents, especially if they have had limited success with traditional therapies.

The good news is that the vagus nerve can be a key factor in helping children with these special needs. The vagus nerve acts as a communication hub that relays a sense of calm to various body systems and functions, including the gut, brain, and a person’s mood.

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) – as well as other conditions such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) – are likely to have an overtaxed vagus nerve. This can leave their bodies and minds in a state of constant alertness, which may lead to difficulty building relationships, completing self-care tasks, and performing academically.

Researchers are exploring the use of vagus nerve stimulation to help children with Autism. SoundSory is an innovative program that utilizes vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) to support this part of the nervous system gently. In this article, we will explore the inner workings of the vagus nerve, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and offer a range of techniques to balance this nerve at home.

What Is the Vagus Nerve, and How Does It Impact Autism?

The vagus nerve has numerous responsibilities, ranging from generating reflexes such as coughing and swallowing to regulating the body’s heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing. This nerve helps regulate mood and allows us to recover from stressful situations. The vagus nerve also controls skills such as organization, memory, and attention, which are crucial for learning and development.

When a child has a strong vagus nerve (also known as having high vagal tone), they can manage stress easily and regulate their emotions effectively without much external help. However, if a child is having difficulty with any of the above areas, health professionals may want to test their vagus nerve function. This is because a weak vagus nerve (also known as low vagal tone) increases someone’s risk for several health conditions. 

Research shows that children with Autism Spectrum Disorder more commonly experience low vagal tone (known as parasympathetic nervous system impairments) than children without this condition. This is one reason why they might exhibit digestive problems, increased stress responses, and general emotional dysregulation. 

There are several non-invasive ways to increase vagal tone and address symptoms such as emotional dysregulation. SoundSory is one example of a promising, home-based program that utilizes music and exercise to stimulate the vagus nerve.

How Vagal Dysregulation Shows Up in Autism

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder may experience vagal dysregulation in a range of ways. One of these symptoms includes difficulty managing sensory information from their environment, also known as sensory processing skills. These may affect a child’s ability to understand texture, taste, sound, smell, and sight. Sensory processing difficulties can also involve more complex senses, such as those that control the position and movement of the head and overall body awareness.

In some cases, children are not able to process average amounts of this information, leading them to seek out more input through movement and activity constantly. Other children may be overly sensitive to this input, leading them to have difficulty with everyday activities such as brushing their teeth, using the bathroom, and getting dressed.

Children with Autism may also display a range of other symptoms due to vagal dysregulation, including:

• Increased anxiety
• Difficulty controlling frustration and engaging in impulsive behaviors
• Impairments in identifying and/or verbally communicating their own emotions
• Having a narrower range of emotions compared to others
• Impaired ability to recognize and comprehend emotional and social cues from others
• Chronic feelings of sadness, loneliness, isolation, and lack of belonging
• Difficulty responding to changes in routine or unexpected life events
• When feelings such as frustration and irritability are not managed, this may lead to aggressive behaviors
• Displaying repetitive behaviors in an attempt to self-soothe
  • This is also known as stimming. Repetitive behaviors may be physical in nature, such as spinning, foot tapping, rocking, hand flapping, or have a strong focus on certain senses (such as staring into lights or mouthing objects). They may also be vocal, including repeating certain sounds or words.

It is important to note that many people may misunderstand symptoms associated with Autism. Some people assume that ASD symptoms are due to behavioral problems, poor parenting, or a lack of structure. This is simply not true. Autism Spectrum Disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition that is caused by a combination of genetics (family history), biological factors (such as underdevelopment in some parts of the brain), and environmental factors (such as the age of parents at the time of a child’s birth). These factors can also lead to vagus nerve dysfunction, which is also known to play a role in the development of ASD.

Stimulating the Vagus Nerve for Autism: Practical Strategies and Methods

Vagus nerve stimulation is a well-known technique proven to assist with managing depression, migraines, and epilepsy. However, recent studies have shown that VNS can benefit children who have Autism. VNS does this by assisting with managing ASD symptoms such as anxiety, limited focus, mood imbalances, difficulty responding to stress, and social deficits. Below, we discuss some simple and effective strategies to stimulate the vagus nerve for Autism.

1. Soundsory: Auditory and Vestibular Stimulation

SoundSory is a fun, interactive program that takes a multi-sensorial approach to vagus nerve stimulation. SoundSory does this by using music (auditory input) and exercise (vestibular input and proprioception). This combination of sensory information balances the vagus nerve and calms the body and mind.

How often should you use SoundSory? SoundSory is designed for completion in 30-minute sessions over a period of 40 days. This approach is natural and has no side effects, meaning you can complete it even more if you want to.

How does SoundSory work? SoundSory stimulates and soothes the vagus nerve, which helps alleviate symptoms of anxiety and mood fluctuations. This can ease stress and sensory-based responses while boosting focus.

2. Deep Breathing Exercises

Deep breathing exercises (belly breaths) involve breathing slowly in through your nose and slowly out through your mouth. These cycles of air through your lungs help for cleaner, healthier respiratory function. Additionally, deep breathing leads to improved heart rate and encourages more consistent breathing patterns, thereby strengthening the vagus nerve.

How often should you do deep breathing exercises? Try to do a set of 20 deep breaths at once to start. You can do more if you want to.

How do deep breathing exercises work? Lie on your back on your bed or on a soft surface on the floor, such as a rug. Place one hand flat on your stomach and your other hand flat on your chest. Take a large but slow deep breath in through your nose. You know this is working if you feel your lower hand rise as your abdomen fills with air. When you can’t take any more air in, begin slowly blowing air out through your mouth with pursed lips (like you are whistling). You should feel your upper hand fall as the air escapes your chest. Breathing in and out counts as one full breath.

3. Gentle Yoga

Yoga is a movement practice that incorporates healing of the body, mind, and spirit. You assume certain poses to improve flexibility, strength, and overall movement in various body parts. These intentional movements involve slowly stretching, which regulates the body’s vital signs and encourages body awareness – both of which help balance the vagus nerve.

How often should you do yoga? You can start with 5 minutes of yoga. As you become accustomed to the movements, you can increase this time to 30 minutes or more, according to your preference.

How does yoga work? There are many yoga poses, but it’s ideal to start with a basic one. You can try the tree pose, which involves standing tall with both feet flat on the ground, balancing on the balls of your feet. Next, take the flat bottom of one foot and balance it on the side of the opposite knee. You can place your hands together in front of your chest or stretch them up to the sky. Balance here while standing tall with your chest puffed out and your shoulders rolled back. Hold this pose for as long as you can.

4. Massage

Massage is the gentle manipulation of specific muscles in the body to relieve tension and stiffness. This improves circulation, flexibility, and movement from a physical standpoint, but also has emotional effects, including improved focus and decreased anxiety. This all serves to balance the vagus nerve.

How often should you practice massage? You can start by self-massaging one part of the body for 5-10 minutes. Be sure that you work on both sides of the body whenever possible. For example, if you massage one side of the forehead, switch to the other side before finishing.

How does massage work? Sit down and get comfortable. Place your hand behind one ear and use the tips of your fingers to rub the area gently. Do this for several minutes before moving to the other side of your head using your other hand.

5. Interval training

Interval training involves completing specific exercises (of your choosing) in rapid succession with rest periods incorporated. While many types of exercise are beneficial for vagus nerve health, interval training is efficient due to its impact on heart rate. This exercise leads you through periods of high heart rate (during each exercise) and opportunities where your heart rate is allowed to return to normal (during each rest period). This encourages what is called heart rate variability, which helps the body adapt to changes and strengthens the vagus nerve.

How often should you practice interval training? You can start with 5 minutes of interval training and work your way up to 10, 20, 30 minutes, or more. You can do interval training 3 to 5 times per week, being sure that you drink plenty of water and get sufficient rest in between. This allows your muscles to recover and helps prevent strain or other injuries.

How does interval training work? Make a list of several exercises you might enjoy. Some examples include crunches, push-ups, pull-ups, lunges, squats, pelvic bridges, donkey kicks, and burpees, but you can use any exercises you prefer. Set a timer for 60 seconds and complete the first exercise on your list as many times as possible until the timer goes off. Once the timer goes off, set one for another 60 seconds. During this time, gently stretch your body or simply drink some water as you rest. Once the timer goes off, set it for another 60 seconds and choose another exercise from your list. Do this as many times as you can until the timer goes off. Repeat these steps until you finish all the exercises on your list.

6. Humming

Humming sends vibrations through the vocal cords and respiratory system, which stimulates the vagus nerve and “wakes it up.”

How often should you practice humming? You can start by humming for 30 seconds at a time, but this can be done for as long and as frequently as you’d like.

How does humming work? Sit comfortably in a chair and forcefully breathe through your mouth as it is closed. As you do this, you will feel vibrations that create a humming noise. Continue as long as you feel comfortable doing so.

Key Clinical Benefits of Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Autism

Stimulating the vagus nerve has been linked to numerous long-term benefits. One study found that vagus nerve stimulation has promise in reducing the fear responses of those with Autism, which can potentially assist with anxiety and sensory sensitivities. 

Other research found that vagus nerve stimulation can reshape the connection between the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala in children who have Autism. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for functions such as memory, judgment, organization, planning, and attention, all of which are crucial for learning and decision-making. The amygdala is the emotional seat of the brain that helps us process other people’s emotions, regulate our vital signs, form memories, and pick up on social cues. 

Additionally, this study demonstrated that vagus nerve stimulation resulted in an increase in the production of feel-good chemicals in the brain, specifically serotonin and norepinephrine. Each of these brain parts plays a crucial role in socialization and emotion regulation, and all this research has uncovered significant developments that demonstrate the effectiveness of vagus nerve stimulation for individuals with Autism.

How Parents Can Track Improvement

It’s essential to recognize the changes that indicate progress in your child with Autism. Parents may want to look out for improvements in sleep, particularly in the time it takes to fall asleep, the duration of sleep, and the frequency of nighttime wakings.

Other signs that vagus nerve stimulation has been effective for your child include calmer behaviors, both in a general sense and in response to daily activities or challenges. Children who receive vagus nerve stimulation may also have fewer instances of sensory overload, fewer aggressive or impulsive behaviors, and improved ability to self-soothe when times of distress do arise. 

In some cases, children who can communicate verbally may even express feeling calmer and more relaxed. Parents may also notice fewer digestive problems, such as more regular bowel movements, fewer instances of nausea or upset stomach, and less bloating.

How Non-Invasive Techniques like Soundsory Can Help

SoundSory is yet another non-invasive technique that can be used to optimize the effects of any of the vagus nerve stimulation techniques we just discussed. By using sound therapy and exercise, SoundSory can benefit many children with Autism and related sensory concerns. Its specialized design includes frequencies that target the vagus nerve for a greater balance and improved vagal tone.

SoundSory is easy to use and ideally suited for your child’s existing daily routines. Children who use SoundSory tend to experience more regular sleep, less sensory overload, and generally report enjoying the program.

FAQs | Vagus Nerve and Autism

What is the vagus nerve, and why is it essential in Autism?

The vagus nerve is an integral part of the central nervous system that controls functions ranging from vital signs (heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate) to emotional regulation. Low vagal tone has been connected to a range of health concerns, many of which correlate with Autism spectrum disorder symptoms. Research shows that addressing vagus nerve weakness can help manage specific autism symptoms.

How does VNS help with Autism symptoms?

Vagus nerve stimulation improves someone’s ability to respond to stress, manage emotions, and keep the body’s vital signs steady. These can improve Autism symptoms such as anxiety, difficulty adapting to new situations, social impairments, and trouble balancing mood.

How does Soundsory work, and is it safe?

SoundSory is a non-invasive program that stimulates the vagus nerve by engaging all of the body’s senses. SoundSory is safe, effective, and can be completed as often as you’d like.

Can I use Soundsory along with other therapies for Autism?

Yes, SoundSory pairs well with other natural healing methods, as well as traditional therapies such as behavioral therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.

How quickly can I expect to see results?

It can take someone with Autism 6 to 8 weeks of vagus nerve stimulation to begin to see changes in their symptoms. However, each person is different, and consistency is crucial for achieving the best results.

Conclusion

In summary, vagus nerve stimulation exercises and devices can enhance the vagal tone of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, resulting in numerous positive effects. Children may experience improved sleep, better digestion, a calmer mood, reduced difficulty with sensory input, enhanced socialization, increased focus, and an improved ability to self-soothe.

Whether you choose to utilize SoundSory, the other natural vagus nerve stimulation approaches we discussed in this article, or a combination of the two, this amounts to a well-rounded approach for managing Autism symptoms. Parents are also pleased to learn that these pair well with traditional therapies such as occupational therapy, physical therapy, behavior therapy, and speech therapy. In fact, many providers choose to utilize SoundSory as part of their comprehensive treatment.

If you are interested in any type of vagus nerve stimulation to assist your child with Autism Spectrum Disorder, contact your healthcare provider to learn more.

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