A Brief History of Autism

Autism is a word that most of our society is familiar with, as it seems to be on the rise. More and more children each year are turning up Autistic, and adults who were thought to have another condition are being diagnosed with Autism due to heightened awareness. While many have been exposed to Autism for one reason or another, it is quite rare that they know anything about the history of Autism. Those interested in the history of Autism will certainly find this brief history of Autism to be of great interest to you, as it not only talks about the discovery of the condition, an overview is given concerning the changes in viewpoints among professionals, as well as various treatment methods that have been employed on Autistic individuals over the years.

The History of Autism in the Early 1900s

The history of Autism begins in 1911, when the condition was beginning to be discovered. Eugen Bleuler, a psychiatrist from Switzerland was the one who first coined the term; however, Autism did not mean what we know it today. In those days, Autism was a term used to refer to those suffering from a variant of schizophrenia. This doctor observed that these patience did seem to be in their own world, hence the reason he coined the term Autism, which means in the literal sense, one that escapes from reality. It was not until later in the twentieth century that people really begin to understand what Autism really was and how people living with it were truly affected (Autism and PDD Support Network).

The History of Autism in the '30s and '40s

Between 1938 and 1943, Leo Kanner, a doctor from John's Hopkins University carefully studied and observed eleven children and found that they started withdrawing into themselves at around the age of one. He also found that these children did not interact normally, as they did not show an interest in human contact as did normal children their age. Unlike his previous peers, he was able to somewhat describe Autism. He observed that these patients did exhibit skills and certain gifts that would not classify them as insane, profoundly retarded, or slow learners, as was the way things were done before he wrote and published his paper about Autism, which began the further understanding of the condition. Sadly, Autism was still not yet really understood, for the next two decades, it was still believed that those who were Autistic had a form of Schizophrenia. This belief caused many parents to blame themselves for their children's misfortunes, as it was then believed hat Autism was the result of bad parenting (Autism-resources.com).

The History of Autism in the 1960s to the Present

In the late 1960s, Autism really began to be understood. Doctors began to clearly identify symptoms associated with the disorder, and some of the first treatments were developed. The theory that Autism was a form of Schizophrenia was then debunked. Though this was so, the treatments were anything but humane and loving (Autism-resources.com).

One particular treatment that was imposed upon Autistic children was that they would be removed from their biological parents and placed in foster care to see if the children would get better, as it was believed that, during this time period, parents were the blame for the child turning out Autistic. Professionals, such as Sigmund Freud, believed that Autism was the result of parents not treating their child with the same warmth and affection that normal children were given. Freud thought that if the bonds were not formed between parent and child, they would not be developmentally normal. While this is, indeed, true, it is not the cause of Autism. When the foster care method did not work, this was done away with, and then Autistic children were subjected to numerous psychological treatments that were short lived and not universally accepted by the medical community, as for several decades, up until the past twenty years or so, the treatment of Autistic individuals was very controversial. When these treatments proved to be detrimental more than helpful to the patients, further research was done and more treatments came about. The treatments of old were no longer considered (Autism-resources.com).

While there is still quite a bit of controversy surrounding Autism and its treatments, there is now a universal approach, as medical professionals will suggest the recommended treatments to parents, and parents can pick what they feel will work best for their child, as well as the rest of the family, in case the treatment calls for other family members being involved. Now, more than ever, resources are readily available, programs are established to help Autistic loved ones and their families, awareness is heightened, and the walls of ignorance towards the condition are being torn down. Though we still have a long way to go in understanding the condition, we are better off than in times past.

Work Cited

Autism and PDD Support Network. "History of Autism." Autism and PDD Support Network. 2003-2007. Web. 22 Sep 2009. http://www.autism-pdd.net/autism-history.html.

Autism-resources.com. "Autism FAQ-History." Autism-resources.com. 2009. Web. 22 Sep 2009. http://www.autism-resources.com/autismfaq-hist.html.