Early Infantile Autism

Early infantile autism is primarily characterized by withdrawal from interpersonal relationships from infancy into childhood.

The symptoms may be observed as early as 4 months; unlike their peers, babies with this condition are not responsive to social stimulation. This was first described by Leo Kanner, an Austrian-American child psychiatrist. Kanner specified that his patients with this diagnosis lacked affective connection, demanded sameness, had speech difficulties, were preoccupied with manipulating objects, and had excellent rote memory or visual-spatial abilities but had difficulties in other areas.

In the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), this condition is known as “autism spectrum disorder” (ASD).