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oor families with autistic children tend to fail to cater to the children's special needs, drastically reducing the chance of improvement.

"Autistic children need a special diet. Some cannot consume sugar, wheat flour, milk or food coloring, while others cannot break down proteins," said Ismunawaroh, the program head at Rumah Autis, a foundation catering to autistic children, especially those from low-income families.

Rumah Autis provides training and therapy for children with the special condition at low costs.

Dietary problems could lead to autistic children behaving more erratically or more hyperactively than usual, she said.

"Some parents can afford tests to determine whether their autistic children are intolerant to certain substances, and some can provide their children with alternatives. For example, giving them vitamins to substitute for milk," Ismunawaroh told The Jakarta Post via telephone on Saturday.

She added that parents should increase their knowledge by reading up on nutritions or consulting with doctors.

However, some parents cannot afford tests and food substitutes. These parents also don't have the knowledge needed to maintain their children's special diets, Ismunawaroh went on.

"Some parents bring their children to us at a very late stage, when the children are already 8 years old, for example," she said.

The ideal period for detecting specific conditions is below 2 years old, she added. "The golden age for development is 2 to 5 years old. They respond to therapy faster than the older kids," she said.

Autistic children can usually be identified by their unique behavior, such as repetitive movements, hyperactivity or attachment to certain objects.

"They usually have trouble communicating. They seem to be ignorant of their surroundings," Ismunawaroh said. A single cause of autism has not been identified. There are multiple causes, such as lead poisoning, pollution, food and genetic factors, Ismunawaroh said.

Khoironi from the foundation's communication division said there were currently no precise data on the number of Indonesians with autism.

He added, however, that the number of children participating in Rumah Autis' therapy sessions had increased since the foundation was established in 2004.

"Currently there are 162 children registered in seven branches. Last year, there were 130," Khoironi said.

Rumah Autis has seven centers in Bekasi, Tangerang, Bogor, Depok, Jakarta and Karawang.