## 1 Introduction
### Current Interventions for Auditory Hypersensitivity  
With evidence suggesting that auditory hypersensitivity within the ASD population is caused by psycho-emotional problems rather than specific physiological manifestations within the auditory system, interventions have been developed which focus on the neural mechanisms involved with emotional processing, emotional memory and emotional reactions. Such interventions call upon cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) techniques such as systematic desensitisation, a procedure which reduces pathological fear and its related emotions by exposing the patient to the feared stimulus in the presence of relaxation or play activity. However, this does not alter any existing pathological structures, rather it forms completely new and competing structures that contain no pathological associations [21; 22]. This approach has been demonstrated to reduce fear in children with ASD who have specific phobias such as eating, dogs and visits to the dentist [23; 24; 25]. Importantly, desensitisation has been used to treat the hypersensitivity of children with autism to common environmental auditory stimuli. An example of this is shown in research by [PERSON] et al. [17]. A small group of three children with autism who had severe hypersensitivity to everyday sounds (vacuum cleaner, blender, hand-mixer, toilet flushing, toys), was found to have a noticeable reduction in adverse reactions to auditory stimuli after up to 34 weeks of systematic exposure. There is extensive literature that supports the use of CBT as an effective intervention to reduce anxieties in autism [26]. However, there are arguments based on the core symptoms of autism that would suggest that traditional CBT techniques are not appropriate for this particular neurological disorder. Firstly, CBT sessions often involve face-to-face verbal exchanges. These aim to teach the child to not only become knowingly aware of their pathological associations with a feared stimulus but also create a challenge for them and develop new positive associations [27]. This would be particularly challenging for a child with cognitive and social impairments, resulting in diminished motivation and engagement in traditional CBT [28]. Secondly, CBT techniques that use imaginal exposure are not contextualised and do not fully characterise the medium in which the patient experiences their anxiety. This is also problematic for ASD, as they need frequent practice and contextualised exposure to increase chances of real life generalisation [29]. Another important consideration of current CBT is a lack of accessibility. A recent systematic review by [PERSON] et al. [30] has noted that the rates of implementation for cognitive behavioural therapy are below the recommended levels for the United Kingdom. This gap in delivering successful mental health interventions has stemmed from a number of influences including lack of resources, limited dedicated therapy time and a lack of specialist training [31]. It is often reported that individuals with ASD have an affinity with technology, and similar to their neuro-typically developed peers, actively engage with and enjoy playing video games. This has led to an increase over the past decade in interventions for this population being delivered through computer driven approaches such as serious games (SG). These applications are capable of combining computer game mechanics and traditional therapeutic mechanisms within engaging virtual environments. Such games allow for full control over sensory information presented to the user, creating a safe environment in which players can practise newly acquired skills. Furthermore, serious games have been observed as a cost effective and accessible approach to interventions for individuals with autism. At this time there is only one published study examining this area. Sinbad and the Magic Cure [32] is a mobile game in which during game play children are exposed to stereo renders of sounds that are found to be particularly disturbing to those with autism.