I'd be curious to know if anyone here has a child with this issue but feels entirely confident that ASD is not on the table. (My DD has a tendency towards literal thinking as well, though it's not nearly as pronounced as some kids' seems to be. It's also improved. She does not like to be joked with in this way, still, but recognizes that it is joking.)
My son has several strong Aspergers traits, but the psychiatrist has ruled out autism and specifically Aspergers. He says some traits can also be present in individuals with high IQ's who don't have Aspergers.. What he said was a good litmus test is if the traits get better or worse over time. If they get better over time, it usually isn't Aspergers. Not that individuals with Aspergers can't gain coping skills, but the core of traits remain.
