The Asocial Unetwork

DSM IV is significant because this was the last diagnostic tool to list “Asperger's Syndrome” before it was lumped in with “Autism Spectrum Disorder”. The distinctions and lives outside of disability were largely lost. A good starting explanation of Xenos is Asperger's that doesn't get to the level of debilitation.

Highlighted text is a reinterpretation of DSM IV that seems to fit Xenos more accurately.

A. [asocial - WeDoNotDoConferences, please] Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:

• marked impairments in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, and gestures to regulate social interaction.
• failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level.
• a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people (e.g. by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to other people).
• lack of social or emotional reciprocity.

B. [obsession - deep explorers and observers] Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following:

• encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus.
• apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals.
• stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g., hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements).
• persistent preoccupation with parts of objects.

C. The disturbance causes clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning [ This is the difference between Xenos (no significant impairment in these) and Autism (Xenos with clinically significant impairment for these and the rest) ]

D. There is no clinically significant general delay in language (e.g., single words used by age 2 years, communicative phrases used by age 3 years).

E. There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or in the development of age-appropriate self-help skills, adaptive behavior (other than social interaction), and curiosity about the environment in childhood.