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I am no expert, but use the terms high functioning autism and Asperger's
interchangeably. If that is what you mean I think it might be interesting to
those on this NG to get an idea of what you are referring to in a bit more
detail. That way they can decide for themselves whether they feel SP and
autism might be the same.

Decide for yourselves:

DSMIV criteria for Social Phobia
A. A marked and persistent fear of one or more social or performance
situations in which the person is exposed to unfamiliar people or to
possible scrutiny by others. The individual fears that he or she will act in
a way (or show anxiety symptoms) that will be humiliating or embarrassing.

B. Exposure to the feared social situation almost invariably provokes
anxiety, which may take the form of a situationally bound or situationally
predisposed Panic Attack.

C. The person recognises that the fear is excessive or unreasonable.

D. The feared social or performance situations are avoided or else are
endured with intense anxiety or distress.

E. The avoidance, anxious anticipation, or distress in the feared social or
performance situation(s) interferes significantly with the person's normal
routine, occupational (academic) functioning, or social activities or
relationships, or there is marked distress about having the phobia.

F. In individuals under age 18 years, the duration is at least 6 months.

G. The fear or avoidance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a
substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical
condition and is not better accounted for by another mental disorder (e.g.,
Panic Disorder With or Without Agoraphobia, Separation Anxiety Disorder,
Body Dysmorphic Disorder, a Pervasive Developmental Disorder, or Schizoid
Personality Disorder).

H. If a general medical condition or another mental disorder is present, the
fear in criterion A is unrelated to it, e.g., the fear is not of Stuttering,
trembling in Parkinson's disease, or exhibiting abnormal eating behaviour in
Anorexia Nervosa or Bulimia Nervosa.

Specify if:
Generalised: if fears include most social situations (also consider the
additional diagnosis of Avoidant Personality Disorder).

DSMIV criteria for Asperger's Disorder
A. Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least
two of the following:
1. marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviours such as
eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, and gestures to regulate
social interaction.
2. failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level
3. a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or
achievements with other people (e.g., by a lack of showing, bringing or
pointing out objects of interest to other people)
4. lack of social or emotional reciprocity

B. Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behaviour, interests,
and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following:
1. encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted
patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
2. apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or
rituals
3. stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g., hand or finger
flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements)
4. persistent preoccupation with parts of objects

C. The disturbance causes clinically significant impairment in social,
occupational or other important areas of functioning.

D. There is no clinically significant general delay in language (e.g.,
single words used by age 2 years, communicative phrases used by age 3
years).

E. There is no clinically significant general delay in cognitive development
or in the development of age-appropriate self-help skills, adaptive
behaviour (other than in social interaction), and curiosity about the
environment in childhood.

F. Criteria are not met for another specific Pervasive Developmental
Disorder or Schizophrenia.