'These are people without intellectual impairment, who are perfectly able to communicate verbally and non-verbally, but who might feel highly anxious in social situations. They are perhaps characterised mainly by a sort of hypersensitivity.'
Yeah, Frith has gone off the rails if she thinks that's what I refer to as being autistic. Sure, I don't have intellectual impairment. I was diagnosed late -- age 39! I'm hypersensitive, sure. And I have social anxiety even.
But *why* am I socially anxious? Because my brain doesn't work like those of the people around me, and that leads to perpetual misunderstandings that have led, over and over again, to disastrous outcomes for me throughout my life.
If eating constantly makes you choke, is that anxiety you develop in response to it the core of the challenges you face? Or is it the constant choking? Anxiety is a symptom!
Telling me my autism is just anxiety is extremely demeaning and she needs to STFU about things she doesn't understand.