Autismm wasn't as well studied in earlier years. It was probably not tracked very well either. IMO autism is OVERLY diagnosed.

Here's what we do know time wise

1911: Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler first used the term "autism" to describe social withdrawal in people with schizophrenia.

1943: Austrian-American psychiatrist Leo Kanner described "early infantile autism" in 11 children, distinguishing it from schizophrenia, in his landmark paper.

1943: Donald Triplett was the first person diagnosed with autism by Kanner, who documented him as "Case 1".

1955 Tylenol comes to market

1980: Autism was recognized as a separate disorder in the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III).
D).

I agree we are an overly prescribed populations. I HATE taking medications, but it got to the point where it was that or become sicker and put my life at risk.

To this day my grown children are VERY cautious about even OTCs