Below are some historical figures who have a key part to play in the research into Autism.
The term ‘Autism’ was first used by Euger Bleuler in the early 1900s.
Then, in 1925 Grunya Sukhareva published a detailed description of autistic symptoms.
In 1943 Leo Kanner published the first systematic description of early infantile autism.
Dr Lorna Wing was a psychiatrist who coined the term the autism spectrum and revolutionised thinking on autism. Dr Wing undertook research in the 1970’s with Dr Gould. Their work was instrumental in highlighting that the number of autistic people was far higher than previously thought – one in 100 rather than one in tens of thousands.
Dr Wing was also a co-founder of the National Autistic Society and helped set up their first diagnosis centre in 1991.Dr Wing was also a co-founder of the National Autistic Society and helped set up their first diagnosis centre in 1991.
The concept of the spectrum is a complex one. It is not a simple line from one end to the other. Lorna Wing’s favourite saying was “Nature never draws a line without smudging it.”
Since then it has been given many different names which means that some people will use different names for autism.
For example:
- Autism spectrum disorder or ASD which is the medical name for autism.
- Autism spectrum condition or ASC which is used instead of ASD by some people.
- Asperger’s (or Asperger syndrome).
- Classic autism.
- Kanner autism.
- Pervasive developmental disorder or PDD.
- High functioning autism or HFA.
- Low functioning autism or LFA.
- Pathological Demand Avoidance or PDA.
- Childhood Disintegrative Disorder or CDD.
Some of these relate to the different diagnostic manuals and tools used as well as the different autism profiles presented by individuals.
- Aspergers – This was removed from the DSM (the diagnostic manual Dr’s use for diagnosis) in 2013 and instead individuals are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder instead.
- Classic – this is an outdated term which is rarely used now, it was first used over 60 years ago.
- Kanner – this is an outdated term which is rarely used now, it was first used over 60 years ago.
- High/low functioning – outdated term and advised not to use because it is based on how the person appears, rather than how easy or difficult it is for them to navigate the world, disregards their individual difficulties and is othering language.
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