Final answer:
Dr. Leo Kanner first characterized autism as a disorder with specific behaviors such as impaired social skills and communication in 1943. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is now understood as a spectrum with varying degrees of impact, including associated conditions like epilepsy and intellectual disabilities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The individual who first characterized autism as a condition with a variety of behaviors including a lack of social reciprocity and emotional awareness, delays in communication, atypical use of language, and repetitive interests and behaviors was Dr. Leo Kanner. In 1943, he published a paper titled "Autistic Disturbances of Affective Contact" where he detailed the behaviors and characteristics of 11 children who displayed this unique set of symptoms. Kanner's work laid the foundation for the modern understanding of autism as a neurodevelopmental disorder known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), though initially, his description did not encompass the entire spectrum as it is understood today.
ASD is now recognized for its varied presentation, ranging from individuals with severe impairments to those who are highly functioning. Symptoms such as impaired social interactions, difficulty making and maintaining eye contact, reading social cues, feeling empathy, engaging in repetitive motor behaviors, and having strict adherence to rituals are all part of the ASD diagnosis. Moreover, it's a spectrum disorder where patients might also have associated conditions like epilepsy or intellectual disabilities, such as those found with Fragile X syndrome. However, it's also noted that many individuals with ASD have excellent language skills and do not consider themselves to be suffering from a disorder but rather understand that their brains process information differently.