Autism was first identified as a separate condition in the 1940s
by Leo Kanner, an American child psychiatrist, who published
an account describing a disorder he termed 'Autistic disturbances
of affective contact.' The feature found across Kanner's eleven
cases was a 'profound autistic withdrawal.' Other features
were a good rote memory, over-sensitivity to stimuli, an obsessive
desire for sameness, a skilful relationship with objects and
mutism or language without communicative intent. Kanner's description
has stood the test of time, with current theories of autism emphasising
the cardinal nature of the social impairment.
Definition
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) can be conceptualised as biologically
determined behavioural syndromes with varying aetiologies (associated
causes) in which there is a dysfunction in the brain and parts
of the central nervous system. This affects sensory and cognitive
processing and social relating, and leads to difficulties in
communication and social interaction skills. There is a tendency
to uneven skills development, with relative strengths in concrete
processing and difficulties with transient and abstract processing.
Which part of the brain or neurochemistry is affected is not yet
resolved. At this stage evidence suggests that many paths could
lead to a particular manifestation of the autism spectrum. As there
have been no consistent findings concerning the neuropathology or
possible core deficits in ASD cases continue to be identified by
a set of diagnostic criteria which are based on observable behaviour.
This denotes a pattern of impairments in:
Reciprocal social interaction
Verbal and nonverbal communication,
and
Restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behaviour,
interests and activities. (APA, 2000)
IQ is not a defining feature, with abilities ranging from severe
intellectual disability to the gifted range of intellectual functioning.
The pattern of abilities, rather than the overall score, is more
indicative of an autism spectrum disorder. Recent international and
Australian studies suggest a prevalence of approximately 1:160 for
ASDs (Fombonne, 2003; Wray & Williams, 2007).
