Removal of Asperger's Syndrome from the Psyhciatrists' diagnostic manual; Asperger Syndrome just a label?

Asperger's Syndrome has recently been removed as a clinical diagnosis from the american psychiatrist diagnostic manual (read about it here). Psychologist think Asperger is simply a degree on the autism spectrum and should not be differentiated with a separate label as such. I suppose the Singaporean psychologist community would follow suit and similarly scrape Asperger's Syndrome from their diagnostic manuals.

However, i disagree with the removal of aspergers syndrome from the diagnostic manual. I think that there is a qualitative difference between aspergers syndrome and a plain cold case of autism. In autism, the symptoms manifest itself quite exhibitedly with a general inability to connect with the world and manifest itself with symptoms such as the total inability to communicate, whereas asperger syndrome features symptoms where the individual is cognitively functionable, and able to interact with the external environment, and socially, albeit in an awkward manner.

It would be difficult, in my opinion, for people in the public to recognise this qualitative difference in experiences and the necessary remedies if Asperger Syndrome was treated as simply being on the autism spectrum. I am not sure whether the underlying cause behind Asperger's Syndrome is similar for that of autism. From my reading online, it seems that the medical community has yet to truly identify the cause of autism. It could be due to genetics which affects the neurological development of the individual, or it could be from environmental causes, such as teratogenic agents such as the mercury containing compound called thiomersal formerly used in childhood vaccinations. However, i believe that it might be the case that the underlying cause behind Asperger's Syndrome may be different from autism such that people with Asperger's Syndrome remain functionable cognitively and relatively functionable socially, and it would not be good to assume that Asperger's Syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder.

But it is difficult I suppose to define a character type even with the label Asperger's Syndrome. I may possess certain traits of Asperger's Syndrome but not others. For example, i have trouble knowing what to say in group conversation and feel disoriented in social situations, however, i don't think i possess an obsessive interest in any discipline, or exhibit stimming movements, or am socially oblivious (at least I think so). In my opinion, alot of personality archetypes which may be interpreted as simply introversion now falls under this label of Autism/Asperger's Syndrome - eg: The quiet shy girl, the nerdish boy, the emo gothic teenager, the absent-minded professor, the mystical hermit, the reclusive hikkikomori, the detached philosopher, the computer geek etc. It seems to me like it may very well be the case that these are simply manifestation of a certain personality types rather than a disorder or psychological condition of some sort.

Perhaps, the spectrum is not one of autism, but a general introversion-extroversion spectrum, with Asperger being the extreme end of introversion, whilst histrionic personality disorder being the extreme end of extroversion such as to be seen as a disorder. The question is simply one of degree.

So to end off this post, I shall present two videos of these two Aspie vloggers. The first girl is all for undiagnosing herself as having Asperger's Syndrome, whilst the second girl thinks that there is a genuine quality to the condition of Asperger's Syndrome such as to warrant its diagnosis