Being different; Living with Autism | Autism


Autism - an introduction
The characteristics
Variable features
Special (Savant) Abilities
Autism - a brief history
Leo Kanner
Hans Asperger
Folktales (1)
Folktales (2)
Explaining autism
Diagnosis
The Family
Education

Autism - a brief history

The history of autism is something like waiting for a bus – nothing for years and then two come along together!
- Autism: an introduction to psychological theory

characteristics of autism: does not mix well with other children

Autism was only diagnosed and named in the 1940s, although the disorder itself has probably always existed. Coincidentally, two professionals from two different continents, Leo Kanner and Hans Asperger, working independently of each other, had used the same term "autism" in their research, based on the work of eminent psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler.

Autism comes from "autos", the Greek word for "self" and was first used by Bleuler (1911) in describing children who had withdrawn from participation in the social world. [However, Kanner emphasised that the children he was describing had never been participants in the social world.]

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References:

Frith, Uta (1989). "Autism - Explaining the Enigma". Cambridge, Massachusettes: Blackwell Publishers. Pages 7-11.
(This book is frequently referred to, as the author takes a unique look at anecdotes and characters in history and speculates on their relation to autism. These have been cited as clues of ASD existing in history.)

Happé, Francessa (1994). "Autism – an introduction to psychological theory". London: University College London Press Limited. Pages 7-14.

Cumine, Val, Leach, Julia, Stevenson, Gill. (1998). "Asperger Syndrome – A Practical Guide for Teachers". London: David Fulton Publishers Ltd. Pages 1-2.

Green, Gill (2000). "My Child Has Autism - A Parent's Guide". Singapore: Autism Resource Centre (Singapore). Page 2.

Wing, Lorna (1996). "The Autistic Spectrum – A Guide for Parents and Professionals". London: Constable and Company Limited. Pages 17-21.