Keet, AS is a syndrome-- meaning a collection of symptoms rather than something you can do a biological test for-- but one doesn't have to have all the symptoms to be diagnosable. It's especially hard to diagnose it in gifted kids, because they learn well and compensate; but it can still be terribly frustrating for them.
The language piece doesn't rule anything out-- actually, to be diagnosed with AS, you can't have a language delay (with language delay it would be PDD-NOS or autism-- a distinction that is about to go away in any case). My DS also has read and comprehended beautifully from an early age.
When you say "very into" video games, math, reading how into dpo you mean? My DS's special interests are math and science. He added numbers throughout his preschool years to keep himself calm and happy. This wasn't easily recognized as a problematic behavior, for obvious reasons, but it was for him. Video games are a controlling interest for my DS; I really have to keep the lid on what he's allowed.
I'm not saying your DS probably or definitely has it; I just see enough similarity between your kid and mine that I think it bears looking into. If it fits, the label can buy access to services that can really help.
HTH,
DeeDee
