Autism as a distinct medical condition was first described in 1943 by Austrian-American psychiatrist Leo Kanner, who identified a group of children exhibiting unique social and communication difficulties and repetitive behaviors, which he termed "early infantile autism." However, the term "autism" itself was introduced earlier, in 1911, by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler, who used it to describe a symptom of schizophrenia rather than a separate disorder. Moreover, even earlier clinical observations of autism-like behaviors date back to the late 18th and early 19th centuries with physicians like Jean Itard. Key historical milestones also include Hans Asperger's work in 1944 describing a milder form of autism and Grunya Sukhareva's descriptions of autistic traits in children during the 1920s, which went largely unrecognized for many years.

Early Use of "Autism"

• Coined in 1911 by Eugen Bleuler to describe a schizophrenia symptom.

First Autism Diagnosis

• 1943: Leo Kanner's report on "early infantile autism" as a unique condition.
• 1944: Hans Asperger described a related condition now called Asperger's Syndrome.

Historical Observations

• 1799: Jean Itard documented a boy with behaviors now thought to resemble autism.
• 1920s: Grunya Sukhareva described autistic traits aligning with modern diagnostic criteria.

This timeline marks the discovery and gradual understanding of autism as a distinct developmental disorder separate from schizophrenia and other conditions.