Asperger Baby

In the online version of New Scientist, there's an interview with Simon Baron-Cohen, who is a clinical psychologist at Cambridge University. He runs a clinic for Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism. After the interview is displayed a shortlist of 10 symptoms of Asperger's Syndrome, with the following caveat:

...Before you panic--or feel relieved to have found a possible explanation for your problems--ALL 10 descriptions must apply to you, and your difficulties must be significantly interfering with your daily life.

• I find social situations confusing



• I find it hard to make small talk



• I did not enjoy imaginative story-writing at school



• I am good at picking up details and facts



• I find it hard to work out what other people are thinking and feeling



• I can focus on certain things for very long periods



• People often say I was rude even when this was not intended



• I have unusually strong, narrow interests



• I do certain things in an inflexible, repetitive way



• I have always had difficulty making friends

While I understand the caveat (after all, I greatly enjoyed 'imaginative story-writing' in highschool), and I have some quibbles with the wording of some of the items, this would explain a lot...