Autism By Kanner Essay

(500 words) Individuals with autism vary greatly, therefore some symptoms in Refrigerator Mothers, Sue Rubin, and Nicky Gottlieb were very similar to those described by Kanner, some were very different, and some were both!

Behavioral symptoms described by Kanner included repeating movements/mannerisms, acting out destructively, and requiring routine. Repetition of movements/mannerisms, such as pacing (Peter) and hand clapping (Wendy), were observed in many of the individuals, however there were also individuals like Paul that showed little, much less repetitive movement. Active destruction towards self and others was observed through actions such as smearing their feces on the wall (Chris), biting themselves (Chris), and banging their head on objects (Sue); however, passive destruction was also exhibited by lack of hygiene/showering (Nicky). Routine, such as ordering the same meal (Wendy), gathering car

Environmental stimulus had the potential to become overwhelming, leading individuals like Paul and Chris to dislike being touched. However, some individuals expressed little to no reaction to environmental stimuli, such as being severely burned by a fire explosion (Peter), and others sought out an environmental stimulus of physical contact through hand-holding and forehead touching (Sue). Intense focus on an object or situation can lead to a lack of response or awareness of those around them, something Sue displays when running water over spoons and Nicky when watching tv shows/movies. However, other individuals struggle to latch onto/focus on a task or person present before them, like a mother attempting to share a word game (Paul). Paul also lacks much change in his expression, as did young Missy by report of her parents. However, when her parents visit her, she has a very large smile and twinkle in her eye. Nicky also displays big-smile