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Autism and Markers
The term "autistic" was introduced by Eugen Bleuler to describe social withdrawal observed in a group of patients with schizophrenia. The word is of Greek origin and means "existing for oneself." Later, independently of each other, Leo Kanner and Hans Asperger used the same word to describe a condition they observed in children they worked with. However, neither Kanner nor Asperger implied the meaning of schizophrenia when using the term.
Hans Asperger
In 1944, Hans Asperger independently conducted his research on four boys who exhibited unusual patterns of behavior and abilities. Asperger referred to this behavior as "autistic psychopathy" and identified the following characteristics of the condition:
● Lack of empathy
● Poor skills in forming friendships
● Advanced vocabulary but primarily one-sided conversations, resembling monologues rather than real communication
● Limited, specific interests
● Clumsy movements
Asperger called these children "little professors" because of their ability to talk about their favorite subjects or interests in great detail. He believed that their intense focus on specific areas could become a talent in adulthood, leading to successful careers. The intelligence level of these individuals was within or above the norm, characterized by much better social functioning despite their pronounced introversion.
Asperger himself mentioned having similar autistic traits as a child, being solitary and struggling to make friends. Asperger did not live to see the term "Asperger Syndrome" become widely recognized. His work was conducted in Germany, and only a small portion of it gained prominence at the time. In 1981, Lorna Wing introduced the diagnosis to the scientific community, describing autistic individuals who did not fit Kanner’s stereotype of autism and established six diagnostic criteria based on Asperger's description:
● Speech – No delay in development or pathological language disorders, but communication content is strange, pedantic, and stereotyped.
● Non-verbal communication – Expressionless face, monotone voice, inappropriate gestures, and facial expressions.
● Social interactions – Lack of reciprocity.
● Resistance to change, preference for repetitive actions.
● Coordination of movements – Odd posture and gait, clumsy movements, sometimes stereotypical.
● Interests – Limited range of interests, often exceptional skills in one area of life.