-
He is the first person to use the word autism. The word comes from the Greek work "autos" meaning self (Mandal, 2014).
-
Kanner studied 11 children with deficits in social interactions, adapting to change, sound sensitivity, and other communication deficits (Mandal, 2014). These children were thought to have Autism.
-
Asperger studied similar children who were seemingly higher-functioning. They did not have the severe deficits in social communication (Mandal, 2014).
-
In the 1960s, harmful treatments were used on children with Autism including electric shock to create behavior change through pain ("The History of Autism," 2009).
-
Bettelheim studied children with Autism and suggested the cause was removed and unemotional mothers. The idea was later proven incorrect (Sole-Smith, 2014).
-
In 1975, 1 in 5000 people were diagnosed with Autism (Autism Speaks, 2009).
-
Research completed on twins suggests that brain development and genetics could be a cause for Autism (Sole-Smith, 2014).
-
The DSM-III separates Autism and childhood schizophrenia as different diagnoses (Sole-Smith, 2014).
-
In 1985, 1 in 2500 people were diagnosed with Autism (Autism Speaks, 2009).
-
Lovaas, Ph.D., completed a study to show how intensive behavior therapy could actually help children with Autism (Sole-Smith, 2014).
-
The DSM-IIIR included a checklist for diagnostic criteria and changed the label to "autistic disorder" (Sole-Smith, 2014).
-
Studies on behavior therapy become a more popular form of treatment as well as highly-controlled learning environments ("The History of Autism," 2009).
-
Autism is added a special education category meaning public schools are now able to identify children with Autism and begin giving services ("The History of Autism," 2009).
-
The DSM-IV now includes Asperger's Syndrome as an autism disorder (Sole-Smith, 2014).
-
In 1995, 1 in 500 people were diagnosed with Autism (Autism Speaks, 2009).
-
In 1998, a study was published stating that the MMR vaccine could be a potential cause for Autism. The article was later recalled and proven incorrect (Sole-Smith, 2014).
-
Even after the study on vaccines was recalled, thimerosal (mercury-substance) was removed from vaccinations in 2000 (Sole-Smith, 2014).
-
In 2001, 1 in 250 people were diagnosed with Autism (Autism Speaks, 2009).
-
In 2004, 1 in 166 people were diagnosed with Autism (Autism Speaks, 2009).
-
In 2007, the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders rose to 1 in 150 (Christensen et al., 2016).
-
By 2009, the rate of Autism was up to 1 in 110 (Christensen et al., 2016).
-
The rate of Autism grew to 1 in 88 in 2012 (Christensen et al., 2016).
-
The DSM-5 now uses a wider umbrella "Autism Spectrum Disorder" to classify conditions with social communication deficits and restricted behaviors (Sole-Smith, 2014).
-
The most recent reports show that, as of 2014, the rates of Autism Spectrum Disorders are as high as 1 in every 68 children (Christensen et al., 2016).
-
The references used for this timeline can be found at the following link.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/13y7KaGDa6cPieoxYozTywIzZpmO4AidLxGDOCkUIc-U/edit?usp=sharing