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The term Autism was first used
Eugene Bleuler first used the word Autism to describe schizophrenic patients. -
Prevalence in the 1940s
The prevalence rates during this time were considered to be 4 or 5 in 10,000 children. -
Leo Kanner first characterizes Autism
Kanner described autism as behaviors such as lack of social reciprocity, delays in communication, atypical use of language and repetitive interests and behaviors. -
Hans Asperger
At the same time Leo Kanner was publishing his work on Autism, Hans Asperger characterized a high-functioning form of Autism. -
Bruno Bettelheim
Bettelheim argued that Autism was based on social stressors early in life and blamed Autism on "refrigerator moms". "Refrigerator moms" were considered cold and unaffectionate. -
Treatment at Bettelheim's Institute in Chicago
Treatment included removing the child from their "refrigerator mom" and providing play therapy at Bettelheim's institute in Chicago. -
Treatments (1960s through 1970s)
During this time, treatments for Autism consisted of medications, such as LSD, electric shock, and behavioral change techniques, which relied on pain and punishment. -
Bernard Rimland
Bernard Rimland published an article titled "Infantile Autism: The Syndrome and its Implications for a Neural Theory of Behavior.", which debunked Bettelheim's thoery that Autism was caused by poor parenting skills. -
Eric Schopler
Schopler founded TEACCH, which is a program that focuses on education, research and service delivery to people with Autism. -
Prevalence Rate in 1975
The prevalence rate increased to 1 in 5,000 children. -
A Monumental Twin Study
Folstein & Rutter (1977) published an article on research that found a much higher concordance rate among identical twins when compare to fraternal twins. This finding proved that Autism is mainly caused by genetics. -
Lorna Wing
In the 1980s, Wing found that individuals with Autism exhibited disturbed mutual contact, disturbed mutual communication and limited imagination. In the 1990’s, a fourth factor was added, which was limited planning ability. -
Treatments (1980s through 1990s)
Treatment for Autism during this time consisted mainly of behavioral therapy within highly controlled learning environments. -
Prevalence Rate in 1985
Prevalence rate increased to 1 in 2,500 children. -
Ole Ivar Lovaas
Lovaas published an article that stated that some cases of Autism were treatable with the use of rigorous ABA. -
IDEA
Autism was added as 1 of 13 categories a student could qualify for in order receive special education services. -
Prevalence Rate in 1995
Prevalence rate increased to 1 in 500 children. -
Causes- MMR Vaccine
An article published by Andrew Wakefield suggested that there may be a connection between the MMR vaccine and Autism. In the same year, a panel to study this link was set up and no association between the vaccine and Autism was found. -
Causes- Thimerosal
Thimerosal, a mercury found in the MMR vaccine, was thought to cause Autism. The CDC recommended that thimerosal be removed from the vaccine even though there was no credible data that associated thimerosal with Autism. -
Treatment- Special Diets
In the 2000s, many researchers studied the effects of special diets, such as gluten and casein free diets, on children with Autism. Many families that have tried these special diets report great outcomes on their child's symptoms. -
Prevalence Rate in 2001
Prevalence rate increased to 1 in 250. -
Prevalence Rate in 2004
Prevalence rate increased to 1 in 166 children. -
Retraction of the conclusions reported in the 1998 article
Scientists who conducted the 1998 article retracted their conclusion, which stated that there was an association between the MMR vaccine and Autism. -
Prevalence Rate in 2007
Prevalence rate increased to 1 in 150 children. -
Causes- Environmental Risk Factors
Environmental risk factors include increased maternal age, low birth weight, prenatal exposure to pollution, maternal infection, and use of certain medications during pregnancy. -
Prevalence Rate in 2009
Prevalence rate increased to 1 in 110 children. -
Treatments-Medication
In a study published in 2009, the highest number of cases reported the use of Ritalin. Only 29% of parents reported that there was an improvement with the medication and 45% reported that the child's behavior worsened. -
Treatment-Sensory Integration Therapy
Sensory intervention strategies include swinging, deep pressure touch, and tactile stimulation. The use of weighted vests were researched but findings reveal no relationship between conditions wearing the vest and conditions without the vest. -
Causes- Abnormal Neural Development
Research reveals that an atypical patten of growth in head circumference is found in individuals with Autism. These individuals have a small-to-normal head circumference at birth followed by accelerated growth in head circumference that begins in the first year of life, which suggests early brain and cerebrum overgrowth. -
Prevalence Rate in 2012
Prevalence rate increased to 1 in 88 children.