Episode 2

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Published on:

11th Sep 2026

The Power of Sound for Neurodivergent Children with Nicola Maria Rose

What if, when a child is overwhelmed, we stopped asking them to do something to calm down and instead changed what was happening around them?

In this episode of The Spark Changemakers Podcast, Nikki Giant talks to Nicola Maria Rose, founder of HushAway®, a Sound Sanctuary created specifically for sensitive and neurodivergent children.

Drawing on her experience as a nursery owner, neurodivergent-inclusive coach, ADHD coach and sound therapy practitioner, Nikki explains why so many traditional approaches to emotional regulation can fall short at precisely the moment children need them most. When a child is already overwhelmed, instructions such as “take a deep breath”, “calm down” or “use your calm corner” can simply become another demand.

HushAway takes a different approach. Using gentle storytelling, predictable sensory cues, ASMR-inspired soundscapes, binaural beats and carefully designed audio experiences, it aims to give children a low-demand sensory anchor, without requiring them to follow instructions or even pay attention.

In this conversation Nikki and Nicola explore:

⚡The importance of predictability and rhythm for neurodivergent nervous systems

⚡Why choice and agency matter

⚡The potential of sound to support children through transitions, sleep and sensory overwhelm

⚡Why emotional regulation needs to be taken far more seriously within education.

They also discuss HushAway's SoundSonic® ambassadors around the world, the research being undertaken with schools and universities, and the HushAway® Quiet Zone at Fearne Cotton's Happy Place Festival.

At the heart of the conversation is a deceptively simple idea: regulate the child first, and then learning, connection and participation become possible.

Find out more

➡️Explore HushAway® and try the Sound Sanctuary free for 14 days, with no card details required: www.hushaway.com

➡️Follow Nicola Maria Rose (Nikki) on LinkedIn for her latest thinking, research and updates on HushAway®: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicola-maria-rose/

➡️Follow HushAway® across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn: https://linktr.ee/hushaway

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About the Podcast

Spark Changemakers
The show for people who want to change the world
The Spark Changemakers podcast is for everyone who wants to change the world but isn't sure where to start. We’re igniting a changemaker movement, where everyday people like you and me feel inspired and empowered to create positive change. We’re here to give you the tools, insights and inspiration to connect to your Spark – your passion and purpose - so you can be who you came here to be. Each episode we'll be talking to an inspiring changemaker who will share their personal journey of how they found their inner spark and changed themselves, to change the world. Learn more about us at www.TheSparkMovement.org or find us on social media at www.Facebook.com/lightaspark and www.Instagram.com/lightaspark.movement
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