A SPECIALIST facility to help people with autism struggling with sensory problems is set to open in Poole this spring.

Alderney Hospital, based on Ringwood Road and run by Dorset HealthCare, will soon boast a state-of-the-art sensory therapy suite after it received £56,198 of funding from the government’s Autism Innovation Fund.

It is hoped the new provision will build on training already received by staff in sensory integration therapy and help adults on the autistic spectrum suffering with sensory processing disorder.

SPD is a neurological problem that prevents parts of the brain from receiving information needed to interpret sensory information correctly.

Sufferers typically find it more difficult to process information which in turn can lead to symptoms such as motor clumsiness, behavioural problems and anxiety.

As with many disorders, SPD can differ greatly in spectrum, with most people occasionally having at least some difficulty processing sensory information. However, for those worst affected it can be a chronic issue and cause major disruption in day-to-day living.

At the moment Dorset HealthCare only has limited access to one sensory room, which is located at Winchelsea Special School – and Kate Cartwright, an occupational therapist at the trust, said the new suite will ensure the essential facilities are available on a more permanent basis.

“Many patients with autism require long-term specialist support,” she added. “Sensory integration therapy incorporates a personalised programme of care which aims to improve many areas of function including muscle strength, concentration, balance and hand-eye co-ordination.

“Specific activities help with this and range from visual and memory exercises, to building and completing obstacle courses – all with the overall ambition of helping our patients achieve a better quality of life.

“Even through our current, limited, use of a sensory room we have identified improvements in patient’s sleep patterns, attention, memory and social skills. This in turn can lead to a decrease in medication and a reduction of challenging behaviours.

“These new state-of-the-art facilities will really help to enable our patients to lead more independent lives and reduce the support required from carers.”

It is estimated that Dorset HealthCare will be able to offer an additional 60 patients a 12-week course of therapy every year when work to finish the project is complete in May.

The fresh funding came after the government released £1.2million last year aimed at improving autism services and increasing awareness.