The History of Autism: A Timeline

The history of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) spans over a century, evolving from early conceptualizations of behavior to a modern understanding of neurodevelopmental diversity. This timeline covers the key milestones in the recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of autism, providing insight into how perceptions of autism have changed. Explore the evolution of autism understanding through this detailed history. Read more here. Or “Learn more about the history of autism in this insightful article here.”

Introduction:

It has been more than 50 years since Leo Kanner first described his classic autistic syndrome. Since then, research and clinical work have helped us learn more about autism. More and more people are being diagnosed as autistic, although we still have a long way to go in creating a world that works for autistic people. The term “autism” was first used medically by Swiss psychiatrist Paul Eugen Bleuler in the early 20th Century. However, the meaning of the word has changed over the years. In this guide, we’ll explain the history of Autism and Autism Diagnosis.

Timeline of Key Milestones in Autism History:

Pre-20th Century: Early Observations

  • 1801: Jean-Marc Gaspard Itard, a French physician, documented the case of Victor of Aveyron, a child raised in isolation with significant social and communication difficulties. While not an autism case by today’s standards, this marks one of the earliest recorded observations of a child displaying characteristics that might be seen in individuals with autism today.

  • 1866: John Langdon Down, a British physician, publishes a study describing individuals with what we now recognize as Down Syndrome, but he also discusses some children with social and communication challenges that would later be associated with autism.

  • 1887: Moriz Winkler, a German psychiatrist, describes a young boy with social difficulties, language delay, and a lack of emotional expression—traits that would later be recognized as autism.

1910s: Paul Eugen Bleuler

In the early 1900s, Swiss psychiatrist Paul Eugen Bleuler conducted research on schizophrenia. He first described the condition in a lecture in Berlin in 1908 and published his findings in 1911. He defined traits associated with autism as a “detachment from reality, together with the relative and absolute predominance of the inner life.” He described autism as a symptom of childhood schizophrenia. We know now that autism is not the same as childhood schizophrenia. However, children with autism were commonly diagnosed with childhood psychosis or childhood schizophrenia at this time.

1920s: Early Concepts and the Term “Autism”

  • 1926: Grunya Sukhareva, a child psychiatrist in Kyiv, Russian Empire, writes about six children exhibiting behaviors like limited social interaction, restricted interests, and repetitive actions. Sukhareva’s observations were pioneering, though she did not use the term “autism.”

  • 1908: Paul Eugen Bleuler coins the term “autism” (from the Greek word autos, meaning “self”) to describe a symptom of schizophrenia. He uses it to refer to extreme social withdrawal, but it is not directly related to the autism we understand today. His work laid the groundwork for future discussions about isolated behavior.

1940s: Recognition as a Distinct Disorder

  • 1943: Leo Kanner, a psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins University, publishes a landmark paper describing 11 children with “autistic disturbances of affective contact.” He is credited with identifying early infantile autism, emphasizing a pattern of severe social withdrawal, repetitive behaviors, and communication challenges.

  • 1944: Hans Asperger, an Austrian pediatrician, publishes his own work on children who exhibit traits resembling autism. However, his research largely goes unnoticed until the 1980s when his findings are translated into English. His work would later form the basis for Asperger’s Syndrome, a subtype of autism.

1950s: Early Diagnoses and Misconceptions

  • 1952: DSM-I (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) is released by the American Psychiatric Association. Autism is still considered a form of childhood schizophrenia, reflecting the dominant misconception at the time that autism was a psychological disorder caused by disturbed family environments.
  • 1956: Leon Eisenberg, an American psychiatrist, writes extensively about the neurodevelopmental aspects of autism and contributes to the growing understanding that autism has a genetic and biological basis.

1960s: The Refrigerator Mother Theory

  • 1960s: The theory that “refrigerator mothers”, cold, emotionally distant mothers, were the cause of autism gains popularity. This harmful theory persists until the 1970s, when researchers like Bernard Rimland challenge it, asserting that autism has a genetic and biological basis.
  • 1964: Ole Ivar Lovaas begins developing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), a therapeutic technique that remains widely used today. While ABA helps many individuals with autism, its methods have also sparked controversy due to their focus on compliance.

1970s: The Spectrum Concept

  • 1970s: Lorna Wing introduces the idea that autism exists on a spectrum, emphasizing the diverse nature of the condition. Her work leads to a more nuanced understanding of autism as a set of conditions with varying degrees of severity.
  • 1975: The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (later renamed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA) mandates that public schools provide education for children with disabilities, including autism. This pivotal law helps increase educational access for children with autism.

1980s & 1990s: Formalized Diagnosis

  • 1980: The DSM-III includes autism as a formal diagnosis. This is the first time autism is officially recognized as a distinct condition, separate from schizophrenia and other childhood disorders.
  • 1990s: The concept of the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) begins to gain traction, highlighting the variation in traits and severity among individuals with autism. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), passed in 1990, increases protections for individuals with autism and other disabilities.

2000s: Advancements in Research

  • 2000: Advances in genetics and neuroimaging provide new insights into the causes of autism, suggesting both genetic and environmental factors contribute to its development.
  • 2013: The DSM-5 consolidates previous autism-related diagnoses (such as Asperger’s syndrome and PDD-NOS) into the umbrella term Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This marks the modern conceptualization of autism as a broad spectrum, encompassing a range of traits and abilities.

Today: The Current Understanding of Autism

Autism is now understood as a neurodevelopmental condition that affects social communication, sensory processing, and behavior. Early interventions and individualized support systems, including therapies like Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) speech therapy, and occupational therapy, can significantly improve quality of life. Today, there is an increasing emphasis on neurodiversity, recognizing that people with autism are part of the natural variation of human cognition and behavior.

Conclusion:

The history of autism reflects significant shifts in scientific understanding and societal attitudes. From its early roots in misunderstood behaviors to the current recognition of autism as a spectrum, ongoing research and advocacy continue to shape the ways in which individuals with autism are supported and celebrated. This evolving understanding is vital as we work toward greater inclusivity, acceptance, and empowerment for people with autism worldwide.