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A History of Autism
Autism Research and Publications
Bleuler
1911
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Eugen Bleuler first used the term autism in relation to schizophrenia. 'Autism' and 'autistic' come from the Greek 'auto' or self.
Leo Kanner
1943
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Leo Kanner used the term infantile autism to describe unusual characteristics seen in a study of 11 children. He also suggested a possible genetic component to these bahaviours.
Hans Asperger
1944
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Asperger studied 4 boys who showed similar unusual characteristics.
Kanner: Lack of stimulation
1949
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Kanner observed that children with autism experienced a lack of stimulation in their environment. He referred to refrigerator mothers undemonstrative fathers.
Bernard Rimland
1964
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Bernard Rimland proposed the existence of a biological link involved with autism.
Bettleheim
1967
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Bettleheim popularised the theory of autism being a result of an unstimulating environment and the term 'refrigerator mothers' became widely used.
Validation
1967
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The syndrome and features of autism were validated.
Neurology
1971
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A link was made between early childhood autism and neurological disease in children with congenital rubella.
Schizophrenia and autism
1971
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Early childhood autism was recognised as being separate from schizophrenia.
Twin Studies
1977
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Folstein and Rutter conducted studies on twins to explore the genetic component of autism.
'Journal of Autism and Development Disorders'
1979
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The 'Journal of Autism and Development Disorders' was founded
Triad of Impairments
1979
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Lorna Wing identified the Triad of Impairments representing the core characteristics of autism.
E. R. Ritvo
1981
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Dr E. R. Ritvo presented research to suggest that autism may be inherited.
'Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disorders"
1985
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The journal of 'Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disorders" was founded.
Theory of Mind
1985
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Uta Frith proposed that children with autism lack a Theory of MInd.
International Autism Research Review
1987
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International Autism Research Review founded
Candida Infection
1988
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Rimland suggests link between candida infection and autism.
Autistic Spectrum
1991
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Lorna Wing recognises Asperger syndrome as a form of autism and introduced the term autistic spectrum.
Impaired Executive Function
1991
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Sally Ozonoff suggested that executive functioning or problem solving requires planning, impulse control and working memory and that executive functioning related to the frontal lobes may be impaired in individuals with autism.
Weak Central Coherence
1994
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Frith and Happe proposed that individuals with autism have difficulty in making meaning from the whole rather than individual parts.
'Focus on autistic behaviour'
1995
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The journal 'Focus on autistic behaviour' was founded.
Mind Blindness
1995
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Baron-Cohen publishes his book 'Mind Blindness'.
'Focus on autism and other developmental disorders'
1996
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The journal 'Focus on autism and other developmental disorders' was founded
Thinking in Pictures
1996
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Temple Grandin published 'Thinking in pictures and other reports from my life with autism'
MMR Vaccine
1998
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Andrew Wakefiled proposed a link between the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine and autism.
In utero risk
2000
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Rodier looked at the link between in utero risk factors such as rubella and alcohol and autism.
Empathising-Systemising Theory
2003
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Baron-Cohen suggest that autism is an example of the extreme male brain showing strengths in systemising often leading to obsessions but also displaying a lack of empathy.
Rapid Brain Growth
2003
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Courchesne proposed a link between autism and rapid brain growth in infancy.
Environmental Influences
2007
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'Autism' and Environment' workshop in USA to explore the effects of the environment on the developing brain.
Vaccines not a risk
2013
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Destafano found no link between autism and the number of vaccines a child receives in a day.
Autism Communities of Practice
Autism Society of America
1965
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The parent advocate group, Autism Society of America was formed.
IHC sub committee for autism
1969
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A group of parents were formed into a sub-committee within the IHC in New Zealand to focus on autism. This group later became Autism NZ Inc.
TEAACH
1971
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Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication-Handicapped children was founded in the US by Eric Schopier. It increased the services on offer to autistic children and included parents in their therapy.
Autism NZ Inc
1995
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Official launch of Autism NZ Inc.
Autism Awareness Year
2002
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2002 was declared Autism Awareness Year in the UK.
Autism Speaks
2005
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Autism Speaks was founded
NZASD Guideline
2008
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New Zealand Autism Spectrum Disorder Guideline was published by the Ministry of Health.
IDEA
2012
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IDEA ( Intellectual disability empowerment in action) launched ASD Plus to provide communication and behaviour services to support individuals with ASD and their families.
Autism Prevelance
4.5 in 10,000
1966
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Lotter's epidemiological study suggested a rate of 4.5 in every 10,000 individuals were autistic.
15 in 10,000
1996
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As doctors began to recognise autism the number of reported cases in USA rose to 15 in 10,000.
1 in 150
2007
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CDC (Centers for disease control and prevention) in USA reported 1 in 150 individuals were on the autistic spectrum.
1 in 110
2009
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CDC in USA reported autism being present at a rate of 1 in 110.
1 in 88
2012
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CDC reported 1 in 88 children being on the autistic spectrum.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Screening Tools
1911
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Introduction of ASQ ( Autism Screening Questionnaire) and M-CHAT ( Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers).
DSM-I
1952
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Autism related behaviours categorised under schizophrenia in DSM-I
Childhood autism rating scale
1966
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The Childhood autism rating scale was introduced by Schopler and others to assist in the identification of autism.
DSM-II
1968
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Autism related bahaviours remain classified under childhood schizophrenia.
Behavioural Approach
1973
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Behavioural approaches were seen as the most effective way to teach children with autism.
DSM III
1980
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Infantile Autism was recognised as a pervasive developmental disorder by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders III (DSM III). 6 symptoms were listed.
drug therapy
1984
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Drugs started to be used in the treatment of autism.
Applied Behaviour Analysis
1987
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Ole Ivar Lovaas introduced the use of Applied Behaviour Analysis.
DSM III update
1987
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The term "infantile autism" was replaced by 'autistic disorders' and 16 new diagnostic criteria added.
DSM IV
1994
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DSM IV altered the category of pervasive developmental disorders to include Asperger Syndrome and significantly increased the range of diagnostic criteria for autism.