History of Autism
What Is The History of Autism?
Autism was identified as a specific disorder in 1943 by child psychiatrist Dr. Leo Kanner. Based on a study of eleven children, Dr. Kanner published the first description of what he called “autistic disturbances of affective contact.” At the same time, German scientist Dr. Hans Asperger, based on his study of 400 children, described another form of autism that became known as Asperger syndrome. The diagnostic criteria have been revised since that time, but key diagnostic criteria such as lack of affective contact, desire for sameness and fascination with objects have remained the same. In the 1960’s and 70’s Dr. Bernard Rimland, the father of a son with autism, who later founded the Autism Society of America and the Autism Research Institute (ARI), helped the medical community understand that autism is a biological disorder, not a psychological or parenting problem.
Autism was identified as a specific disorder in 1943 by child psychiatrist Dr. Leo Kanner. Based on a study of eleven children, Dr. Kanner published the first description of what he called “autistic disturbances of affective contact.” At the same time, German scientist Dr. Hans Asperger, based on his study of 400 children, described another form of autism that became known as Asperger syndrome. The diagnostic criteria have been revised since that time, but key diagnostic criteria such as lack of affective contact, desire for sameness and fascination with objects have remained the same. In the 1960’s and 70’s Dr. Bernard Rimland, the father of a son with autism, who later founded the Autism Society of America and the Autism Research Institute (ARI), helped the medical community understand that autism is a biological disorder, not a psychological or parenting problem.
