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rocking, and hand-flapping. It is interesting to learn how to help these kids, and to see how they grow up. But it is especially intriguing because it brings us to think about the differences between men and women.
• The word autism comes from the Greek word "autos," which means self, and was coined in the early 1900s to describe the self-orientated way of adults with a certain type of schizophrenia. In the 1940s the meaning of the word changed as psychiatrists began using the term autism to describe a condition in toddlers, often mentally compromised, with the symptoms described earlier.
• At about the same time a German scientist, Hans Asperger, also described a similar yet milder condition in children whose intelligence appeared normal or high performing. These children lacked caring or empathizing skills needed to socialize, and excelled in the ability to focus or concentrate on mechanical systems, objects, and spatial issues.
• Over time this condition has become the Autism Spectrum Disorder, describing how it can present mild to severe, and including other similar conditions in the group. Of course we don't know why Autism happens, but most believe genetics is the driving force, especially because Autism happens mostly in boys.
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