The modern classroom is overstimulating. Walls are covered with stuff, lessons are presented on screens via technology, the computer is the baby sitter. Oftentimes, people with Autism/Asperger's sympoms are more hands on. Just the physical activity of holding a book and turning pages, or doing puzzles/crosswords paper and pen, or doing some form of weaving or knotting project provides that focus and contact with the information.
Could it be that part of the explanation could be that simple? More hands on activities away from technology will get a child's senses more involved?
I only have suspicions....never did formal research into anything but how to teach math.
Aspergers is usually recognized before elementary school. My wife was a pre-K teacher (3 year olds) and she could spot it as early as 3. Her test: If they acted like me, she called in a specialist.
They usually are lone players, unnaturally fearful of human contact, fixated on certain things to the point of obsession, either non-verbal or way too advanced verbally. She had one that would stare at fans. You had to turn them off or he became catatonic.
One of her kids got it from his father who is ASD. He’s a noted children’s author.
My theory is that Aspergers can get worse or better depending on how you respond to it.