The idea that a single individual was the “first person to have autism” is inaccurate, as this neurodevelopmental condition has always existed within the human population. Autism is a lifelong difference in how the brain processes information, particularly concerning social interaction, communication, and the presence of restricted or repetitive behaviors. It is best understood as a spectrum, representing a form of natural human neurodiversity rather than a modern disease. The history of autism is therefore the history of its recognition, naming, and classification by medical professionals, explaining why it was not identified until the 20th century.
The Origin of the Name
The word “autism” was first introduced into the medical lexicon by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1908. Derived from the Greek word autos (“self”), Bleuler used the term to describe a symptom of schizophrenia: a morbid preoccupation with one’s inner life and a retreat from the external world. He defined it as a profound form of self-absorption and withdrawal. Bleuler’s original application described a specific psychiatric state, which is fundamentally different from the modern understanding of a distinct developmental disorder.
Defining the Clinical Syndrome
The first descriptions of the condition now recognized as autism emerged in the 1940s from the separate work of two physicians. In 1943, American child psychiatrist Leo Kanner published his landmark paper, “Autistic Disturbances of Affective Contact,” detailing 11 cases. Kanner used the term “early infantile autism” to describe a unique syndrome marked by “extreme aloneness” and an inability to relate to people from the beginning of life. He also noted an obsessive desire for the maintenance of sameness and a fascination with objects rather than people.
The children Kanner described often exhibited unusual speech patterns, such as repeating phrases (echolalia) and confusing personal pronouns. Kanner’s detailed clinical account established autism as a distinct clinical entity, separate from childhood schizophrenia, based on the early onset of symptoms and profound social deficits. The first child Kanner documented was Donald Triplett in 1938, who is retrospectively recognized as the earliest documented case of the syndrome.
Working independently in Vienna, Austrian pediatrician Hans Asperger published his doctoral thesis in 1944, titled Die Autistischen Psychopathen im Kindesalter (“Autistic Psychopathy in Childhood”). Asperger described a group of boys who displayed a lack of empathy, difficulty forming friendships, and one-sided conversations about intense, narrow interests. He noted that these children often had sophisticated language skills and high cognitive abilities. Asperger sometimes referred to them as “little professors” due to their deep knowledge in specific areas. His work remained largely unknown outside of German-speaking countries for decades due to language barriers and the turmoil of World War II.
The Shift to Autism Spectrum Disorder
The conceptualization of autism evolved significantly in the late 20th century. Autism was formally separated from schizophrenia in the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III) in 1980, classified as “Infantile Autism” within Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD). This move solidified its recognition as a distinct developmental condition. The subsequent edition, the DSM-IV, broadened the criteria to include several related conditions under the PDD umbrella, such as Autistic Disorder, Asperger’s Syndrome, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS).
This fragmented diagnostic approach was later unified, reflecting the understanding that these conditions represented variations of a single neurodevelopmental difference. The fifth edition, the DSM-5, published in 2013, combined all previous subcategories into the single diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The new criteria focus on two core symptom domains: deficits in social communication and interaction, and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. Severity levels are assigned to indicate the degree of support required, acknowledging the wide range of symptoms and abilities found among autistic individuals.
The Challenge of Retrospective Diagnosis
The impulse to identify historical figures, such as famous scientists or artists, as the “first person with autism” is common, but it presents significant scientific difficulties. Applying modern diagnostic criteria to individuals who lived centuries ago is impossible due to the inherent lack of necessary clinical data. A diagnosis relies on detailed developmental history, direct observation, and a thorough assessment of behaviors across multiple contexts, none of which are available for historical figures.
Descriptions of historical figures as eccentric, solitary, or intensely focused are often based on subjective biographical accounts that may emphasize certain traits while omitting others. Interpreting these limited historical records through a modern clinical lens risks oversimplification and misattribution. Autism is a complex condition, and a few isolated traits do not constitute a diagnosis, making retroactive labeling misleading. The condition is a naturally occurring part of human diversity that has only recently been given a name and diagnostic framework.