I’m pretty sure that the effect you are describing exists, but it’s not Autism OR early isolation, it’s AND. Plenty of gifted people are well adjusted. And what starts out as a moderate interpersonal communication deficiency may spiral downward into isolation because of the positive feedback loop you describe. Just like mathematically gifted people spend comparatively more time doing math, physically gifted people spend more time exercising and musically gifted people playing music, there is a mirror vicious circle corresponding to each virtuous circle.
Re Asperger’s reclassification: it is called SCD (Social Communication Disorder) in DSM-V
I am not sure this is correct. The FAQ you link to says
Social Communication Disorder is a new diagnostic category. It is meant to apply to individuals who have deficits in the social use of language, but do not have the restricted interests or repetitive behavior you see in autism spectrum disorders.
My understanding of Asperger’s is that language is perfectly fine, but there are (still quoting the FAQ) “deficits in social-emotional reciprocity, deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction, and deficits in developing maintaining and understanding relationships.”
Notably, social-emotional deficits still fall under the ASD in DSM-5, but SCD is now a separate disorder.
Asperger’s syndrome is no longer given as a category in the DSM-5 because it is assimilated into the ASD rating scale. Asperger’s syndrome would fall into the “Autism Spectrum Disorder—Level 1” category. You can see why most people continue to use the term Asperger’s :-) The DMS-5 states:
“Individuals with a well-established DSM-IV diagnoses of autistic disorder, Asperger’s disorder, or pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified should be given the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder”. (Not Social Communication Disorder).
I’m pretty sure that the effect you are describing exists, but it’s not Autism OR early isolation, it’s AND. Plenty of gifted people are well adjusted. And what starts out as a moderate interpersonal communication deficiency may spiral downward into isolation because of the positive feedback loop you describe. Just like mathematically gifted people spend comparatively more time doing math, physically gifted people spend more time exercising and musically gifted people playing music, there is a mirror vicious circle corresponding to each virtuous circle.
Re Asperger’s reclassification: it is called SCD (Social Communication Disorder) in DSM-V, see e.g. https://www.autismspeaks.org/dsm-5/faq and http://www.asha.org/Practice-Portal/Clinical-Topics/Social-Communication-Disorders-in-School-Age-Children/
I am not sure this is correct. The FAQ you link to says
My understanding of Asperger’s is that language is perfectly fine, but there are (still quoting the FAQ) “deficits in social-emotional reciprocity, deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction, and deficits in developing maintaining and understanding relationships.”
Notably, social-emotional deficits still fall under the ASD in DSM-5, but SCD is now a separate disorder.
Asperger’s syndrome is no longer given as a category in the DSM-5 because it is assimilated into the ASD rating scale. Asperger’s syndrome would fall into the “Autism Spectrum Disorder—Level 1” category. You can see why most people continue to use the term Asperger’s :-) The DMS-5 states:
“Individuals with a well-established DSM-IV diagnoses of autistic disorder, Asperger’s disorder, or pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified should be given the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder”. (Not Social Communication Disorder).