one child has autism.
[{"role": "system", "content": "Autism is a developmental disorder characterized by troubles with social interaction and communication. Often there is also restricted and repetitive behavior. Parents usually notice signs in the first two or three years of their child's life. These signs often develop gradually, though some children with autism reach their developmental milestones at a normal pace and then worsen. Autism is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Risk factors include certain infections during pregnancy such as rubella as well as valproic acid, alcohol, or cocaine use during pregnancy. Controversies surround other proposed environmental causes; for example the vaccine hypotheses, which have been disproven. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their synapses connect and organize; how this occurs is not well understood. In the DSM V, autism is included within the autism spectrum (ASDs), along with Asperger syndrome which is less severe, and pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS). Early speech or behavioral interventions can help children with autism gain self-care, social, and communication skills. Although there is no known cure, there have been cases of children who recovered.\n"}, {"role": "user", "content": "I am very interested in Autism. What can you tell me about this?"}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "Well, in general, it's a developmental disorder usually characterized by difficulty with social interaction and communication."}, {"role": "user", "content": "At what age does this syndrome usually manifest? When do symptoms usually show themselves?"}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "They say parents usually notice signs in the first two or three years of their child's life. There's no super-consistent pattern, as symptoms often develop gradually."}, {"role": "user", "content": "What type symptoms are usually seen in early childhood? "}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "Since it affects information processing in the way brain cells and their synapses connect, it might be delayed speech, hyper-sensitivity to external stimuli, inability/unwillingness to hole eye contact....a disconnectedness."}, {"role": "user", "content": "Is there any therapy or treatment that can be administered to minimize the effects of these symptoms?"}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "There's no known cure -- but there have been cases of children who have recovered. The Magic Pill is a fascinating documentary that shows the impact of a keto diet on one young girl's autism. There are other speech and behavioral interventions, too."}]