Autism

Autism is a severe infant disorder of communication and behavior that develops before the age of three. The term has been used to describe many types of mental disorders, but was originally named in 1943 by Leo Kanner (1894–1981) of the Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Autism is one of a group of disorders called autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Asperger syndrome, atypical autism and childhood autism are kinds of autism spectrum disorders.

Autism is a lifelong condition that can range from mild to severe and affects 1–2 per 1,000 people. 

Autistic males outnumber females by 4 to 1.

Most adults with autism spectrum disorder are unaware they have it until tested. Being diagnosed can lead to treatment and becoming a more socially comfortable person.

American child psychologist Leo Kanner of the Johns Hopkins Hospital first used autism in its modern sense in English when he introduced the label early infantile autism in a 1943 report of 11 children with striking behavioral similarities. 

A young boy with autism who has arranged his toys in a row. Andwhatsnext 

The autistic spectrum and the distinction between "high functioning" and "low functioning" autism was discovered by Austrian medical professor Hans Asperger in an attempt to save children in his clinic from the Gestapo during World War II, who killed disabled children in preparation for the Holocaust. 

In 1944 Hans Asperger studied a group of children who did not repeat words and they had no speech problems like Kanner's did. However, the children seemed to be clumsier than other children. They also had a lack of empathy, little ability to form friendships, one-sided conversation, and intense absorption in a special interest. Arising from this, Hans Asperger described a "milder" form of autism; his discovery is now called Asperger syndrome.

Hans Asperger once said, "It seems that for success in science and art, a dash of autism is essential. The necessary ingredient may be an ability to turn away from the everyday world, to rethink a subject with originality so as to create in new untrodden ways.".

In the 1950s and 1960s, in the absence of any biomedical explanation of autism's cause after the telltale symptoms were first described by scientists, some championed the notion that autism was caused by a lack of maternal warmth. It was known as the Refrigerator Mother Theory.

Julia, a Muppet introduced in April of 2015 on Sesame Street as the first to have Autism. Every year since she has been featured in the April show, as that is Autism Awareness month. She is played by Stacey Gordon, who's son is on the spectrum and named after her daughter. 

Toys R Us started the initiative of a 'quiet hour' in all its stores in the UK in Christmas 2016. The initiative involved temporarily dimming the lights and switching off music and announcements, in order to help the autistic children shop for Christmas.

In 2008, The United Nations General Assembly unanimously declared April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day.

The Maori language of New Zealand has a word for autism, 'takiwatanga'. It means “In their own time and space.”

Although many celebrities are suspected to have Autism Spectrum Disorder, Dan Ackroyd, Daryl Hannah, and Satoshi Tajiri have openly confirmed that they are on the spectrum and have autism.

There are virtually no differences in brain anatomy between people with autism and those without.

People with autism are less likely to catch yawns. The more severe their condition, the less common the behavior gets.