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References 1 & 2
Below is a key to denote the first 4 references used in the timeline markers:
(1) = Mandal, A. (2009). Autism history. News-Medical.net. Retrieved from
http://www.news-medical.net/health/Autism-History.aspx
(2) = Autism at 70 – from Kanner to DSM-5. (2013, September). Autism Speaks. Retrieved from
https://www.autismspeaks.org/science/science-news/autism-70-%E2%80%93-kanner-dsm-5 -
References 3 & 4
Below is a key to denote the third and fourth references used in the timeline:
(3) = SzCristie. (2009, July 14). “The history of autism.” [YouTube]. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaZUig03gT0 (4) = Sole-Smith, V. (2014). The history of autism." Parents. Retrieved from
http://www.parents.com/health/autism/history-of-autism/ -
References 5, 6, & 7
Below is a key to denote the last three references used in the timeline:
(5) = History of autism. (2016). WebMD. Retrieved from
http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/history-of-autism (6) = Hall, L.J. (2013). Autism spectrum disorders: from theory to practice. Boston: Pearson. (7) = McGuinness, S. (2015). History of Autism. Autism Independent UK. Retrieved from
http://www.autismuk.com/home-page/history-of-autism/ -
Color Key
Below is a key that denotes the relationship of colors and the categories to which they correspond.
Green = Key People
Red = Prevalence
Blue = Causes
Yellow = Treatments -
Jean Marc Gaspard
Gaspard treated a boy named Victor (also known as the "Wild boy of Avalon") with a behavioral program. The purpose of the treatment was to help the boy form social relationships and increase his ability to communicate (3, 6). -
Autism Milestones Timeline
by D. Ingle -
Eugen Bleuler
Bleuler was the first person to use the term “autistic.” He used the term to describe schizophrenic persons who were extremely withdrawn and focused on themselves (3, 4). -
Prevalence of autism in the 1940s
The Prevalence of autism in the 1940s was 4 or 5 in 10,000 (6). -
Leo Kanner
In, “Autistic Disturbance of Affective Contact,” Kanner describes common symptoms of Autism in 11 children (regarding social interactions, routines, memory, sensitivity to stimuli, resistance and food allergies, intellect, echolalia, and activity (1, 2). -
Hans Asperger
Asperger described a group of children with the common symptoms of Autism that Kanner described, with the exception of echolalia (1, 3, 4, 5, 6). He noted a less severe form of Autism (Asperger's Syndrome). In addition, Asperger said that many of the children with Autism were clumsy in comparison to normal children (6). -
Bruno Bettleheim / Cause 1940s-1950s
Bettleheim made the theory “refrigerator mothers” popular (4, p.1). His theory said a child’s autism was a result of their mother’s emotional coldness and not loving their child enough (1,2,4, 6). -
Cause of autism
Autism was continued to be viewed as a form of schizophrenia (2). -
Treatments/Interventions in the 1960s
Treatments/Interventions focus on LSD, electric shock, and behavior change techniques (3, 5). -
Bernard Rimland / Cause of autism 1950s/1960s
Rimland’s book Infantile Autism: The Syndrome and Its Implications for a Neural Theory of Behavior, states that the cause of autism was due to biology instead of what was once thought to be poor parenting (6). -
Causes of autism - 1970s
People began to understand that autism is a result of genetics and biological differences in the way the brain develops (2,4). -
Eric Schopler / Treatment
The Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH) was created as a result of Eric Schopler's work for the Child Research Project. The TEACCH program advanced the knowledge about autism (5). -
Eric Schopler / Cause / Treatment
Schopler taught that most children with autism did not have mental disorders as was once thought. He also showed that parents of children with autism could be an effective piece of treatment and education of their children (5). -
Eric Schopler / Treatment
As a result of TEACCH, Schopler’s methods were implemented across North Carolina in schools and specially-funded clinics. In 1972 Schopler's methods were rolled out statewide in North Carolina schools and special state-funded clinics (5, 6). -
Behavior Disorders
Autism was included under the behavior disorders of childhood, but there was no distinct criteria for diagnosing it (6). -
Perceived Cause of Autism 1940s-1960s
Medical professionals viewed autistic people as having schizophrenia (3,5). -
Jean Ayres / Treatment
Ayres developed a sensory integration theory which later led to sensory integration therapy (6). -
Causes - 1980
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) lists ther term “infantile autism” for the first time (4). -
Treatment 1980s-1990s
Behavior therapy and highly controlled learning environments are used for treatment (3, 5). -
Erica Foundation (Early 1980s)
Erica Foundation started education and therapy for psychotic children (1). -
Lorna Wing
Wing began to use the term 'Asperger Syndrome' in her research. This reference resulted in international awareness of this syndrome (6). -
Diagnosis of Autsim - 1980s
Autism is diagnosed by a set of objective criteria (2). -
Prevalence in 1980
Autism was separated from childhood schizophrenia (2). -
Translation of Asperger's Work
Asperger’s work was translated from German to English (1, 6). -
Causes - 1980s
Research on Autism heightened. Parenting was ruled out as a cause of Autism. Causes of Autism were believed to be due to genetic ailments (neurological disturbances, tuberous sclerosis, and metabolic disturbances) (1). -
Lorna Wing & Christopher Gillberg
Wing & Gillberg discover “Wing’s triad of disturbed mutual contact, disturbed mutual communication and limited imagination” (1, p.1). -
DSM
The DSM includes the term “autism disorder” which is a broader definition of autism that replaced “infantile autism” (4). -
Ivar Lovaas
Lovaas publishes a study that shows how children with autism can benefit from intensive behavior therapy (4). -
Rain Man
The movie Rain Man depicts an autistic man (played by Dustin Hoffman) with an impressive photographic memory. This movie brings public awareness of autism (4). -
Mid 1990s
Prevalence of autism increased to 10 per 10,000 (1 in 1,000) (6). -
Special Education
Autism becomes a special education category and public schools begin to identify students on the autism spectrum and provide them with special services (4). -
Asperger Syndrome
Asperger Syndrome was added to the Autism Spectrum. The broadened definition of Austism allowed greater access to services but made it difficult to determine types of therapy (2,4). -
Andrew Wakefield
A gastroenterologist, Andrew Wakefield, conducted research to support legal action again the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (6). -
Vaccines and Autism
The Medical Research Council of Britain develops a panel to research the link between vaccines and autism; the panel found no association between the two (6). -
MMR
A study in a British medical journal, The Lancet, suggests that the vaccine for measles-mumps-rubella causes autism (this was quickly disproved) (4, 6). -
Thimerosal
Research showed that thimerosal caused an extreme level of mercury in the blood of several infants. The Center for Disease control then recommended that thimerosal be taken out of vaccines even though there was not sufficient proof that it was harmful (6). -
Thimerosal removed
The mercury-based preservative thimerosal was removed from routine childhood vaccines because the public feared the preservative was linked to autism even though this link had been proven to be false (4). -
Ole Ivar Lovaas
Ole Ivar Lovaas wrote Teaching Individuals with Developmental Delays: Basic Intervention Techniques (1). -
MMR Conclusion Retracted
The majority of scientists who had linked MMR to autism in 1998, retracted what they had concluded (6). -
Increase in Autism
The estimate of children with autism increases from 1 in 150 (from 2007) to 1 in 110. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explain the increase in autism to be, at least in part, from better screening and testing (4). -
Subcategories
All subcategories of autism are combined into Autism Spectrum Disorder (including Asperger’s Syndrome) (2, 4). This umbrella term includes “impaired social communication and/or interaction and restricted and/or repetitive behaviors” (2, p.2)). -
Quality of Life
Although everyone would like a cure for autism, many people feel that a cure is not likely. Many feel that instead of focusing on finding a cure, resources should be used to help people with autism improve their quality of life (5). -
Current Treatment - 2000s
Currently behavior therapy (3) and other treatments such as language therapy, medical and dietary therapy, occupational and physical therapy, and complementary therapy (such as music or art) are used to treat autism (5). -
Intervention Today
Medication is used to allow people with autism to engage in learning and behavioral therapy. Sometimes drugs are used to “treat anxiety, attention problems, depression, hyperactivity, and impulsivity” (5, p. 2). Diet changes such as removing food allergens may help improve behavior issues (5). -
Complementary Therapies
Complementary therapies involving music, working with animals, or art may help people with autism to learn and express communication (5).
