| Many researches believe that people did exist with the | | | | Hans Asperger made similar discoveries around the |
| syndrome well before the discovery of what is now | | | | same time, but the children he studied were found to all |
| known as autism. However, since little was known | | | | have speech. In fact, they spoke like little grown ups. |
| about autism these people were probably classified as | | | | Thus creating a new category to label autistic people |
| mentally retarded or insane. | | | | with speech as having Asperger Syndrome. |
| In 1908, Eguen Bleuler used the word autism to | | | | Aspergers work did not become known until the 1980s |
| describe schizophrenic patients who screened | | | | when his work was translated into English. |
| themselves off and were self-absorbed. | | | | Bruno Bettelheim wrote about children he classified as |
| Following in 1943, Leo Kanner published the first paper | | | | autistic and claimed their disorder was to be blamed on |
| acknowledging autistic children and documenting that | | | | the coldness of their mothers. |
| he has noticed a series or patterns of symptoms, | | | | In the 70s the knowledge of autism spread to |
| which would classify these children. He found that 11 | | | | Sweden. Where the Erica Foundation was established. |
| children had similar traits such as impairments in social | | | | This foundation provided therapy and education for |
| interaction, anguish for change, good memory, over | | | | children with autism. |
| sensitivity to certain sounds, food problems, and good | | | | In the 80s research accelerated and more people |
| intellectual potential. He also found that these children | | | | were convinced that autism is more of a neurological |
| often came from talented families. Kanner went on to | | | | disturbance sometimes coupled with untreated |
| explain that these children were not simply slow | | | | hereditary illnesses. |
| learners since they did not mold into the patterns of | | | | Autism had a meaning: escape from reality. Kanner |
| emotionally disturbed children. Therefore, Kanner | | | | used this term to describe these children because he |
| established a new category, which has come to be | | | | believed they were trying to escape from reality or |
| known as Early Infantile Autism or Kanner's Syndrome. | | | | they at least gave that impression. |