Autism |
pronunciation: /ˈôˌtizəm/
Noun Also referred to as: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) |
- Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication.
- Autism is a lifelong, non-progressive neurological disorder typically appearing before the age of three years.
History
1908
|
Eugen Bleuler, a German psychiatrist, uses the term “autism” to describe
an individual with schizophrenia who is especially withdraw and self-absorbed. |
1930’s
|
Electroconvulsive therapy was used to remedy antisocial and self-harming behavior.
|
1944
|
German scientist Hans Asperger coined the phrase Asperger’s Syndrome to describe a “milder” form of autism, those with high intellect, difficulty with social interaction, and specific obsessive behaviors.
|
1949
|
Leo Kanner attributed autism to “refrigerator parenting” or the lack of tenderness between the mother/father and the child. This theory was the primary reasoning for autism through the 1950’s.
|
1952
|
Autism was published in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Edition II (DSM II). It was classified as a psychiatric disorder characterized as a childhood form of schizophrenia marked by detachment from reality.
|
1960
|
Bernard Rimland introduces autism as being a biological disorder.
|
1965
|
The Autism Society of America is founded by Bernard Rimland and parents of autistic children.
|
1966
|
|
1977
|
Twins Research study shows that autism is principally caused by genetics and biological differences in brain development.
|
1987
|
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Edition III (DSM III) significantly modified the definition of autism to broaden its characteristic to include the mild form which includes Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD)
|
1991
|
Autism becomes a special education category.
|
1994
|
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Edition IV (DSM IV) revises its definition of autism to include the term spectrum as Asperger’s and Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) are on the mild end of the spectrum while Rett’s Syndrome is on the extreme end of the spectrum.
|
1998
|
Andrew Wakefield publishes a paper correlating vaccines with autism.
|
2007
|
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) approximates 1 in 150 children have autism.
|
2009
|
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) approximates 1 in 110 children have autism.
|
2013
|
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Edition V (DSM V) concludes that there should not be subcategories of autism making Asperger’s no longer a separate category.
|
Page Information Sources
- "The evolution of ‘autism’ as a diagnosis, explained".
- Applied Behavior Analysis Guides: Autism
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Autism
- Refrigerator Mothers: History of Autism Blame
- Parents: The History of Autism
- Masters in Special Education Program Guide: The History of Autism
- Images are free stock images available online