Category: Autism Spectrum
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The Evolution of Autism – Part V: The Woman Behind the ‘Spectrum’
In 1956, psychiatrist Lorna Wing gave birth to her daughter Susie. In the following years, Wing and her husband, psychiatrist John Wing, became increasingly worried as Susie showed a ‘lack of communication and social interaction, lack of pretend play and repetitive behavior.’ Neither parent, despite their medical training, could recognize what was occurring with their…
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The Evolution of Autism – Part IV: Treatment
While Bruno Bettleheim was promoting his use of the ‘refrigerator mother’ theory, Dr. Ivar Lovaas was introducing behavior modification to institutions for adults engaging in severe forms of self-injury. In the mid-1960s, he changed demographics and attempted to help children avoid the path of institutionalization by constructing an intervention with the purpose of teaching language to…
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The Evolution of Autism – Part III: The Revolt against the Refrigerator Mom
As a result of Bruno Bettleheim’s work, mothers found themselves under the microscope when they sought help for their children. Many blamed themselves while others protested. One father, in particular, Dr. Bernard Rimland, was so against the allegation, that autism was caused by the parents, by the professional community that he began a five-year journey…
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