... in routine, unreceptive to physical attention, hyperactivity, lack of eye contact, over attachment to objects, spinning objects, hand flapping, self-abusiveness, rocking, etc. Although autism was identified almost forty years ago, it is only within the past twenty years that any significant research has been done. Autism is now known to be a developmental disorder, but in earlier times was incorrectly viewed as a psychiatric disorder and therefore misdiagnosed as childhood schizophrenia. The effect of incorrect labeling is inappropriate placements and non-prescriptive treatment. Another widely advocated belief was that autism was a result of extremely cold, distant, rejecting and overly intellectual parenting. The child's extreme withdrawal was viewed as a refusal to engage in social or physical contact rather than an inability. Therefore, the assumption was that the familial environment being hostile was the cause of the child's refusal to become engaged. Professionals labeled this concept " the refrigerator mother." ...

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