Should abnormal eye contact be given more weight in dx?

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Let's ignore for a moment the possible changes in AS diagnosis in DSM-V.
Right now, the DSM-IV criteria for AS state the following:

A.Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:

(1) marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors 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

So eye contact impairment is not even a required criterion, if a person has two other characteristics. Does anyone here think that eye contact impairment should be given more weight than it currently has?

I never understood the 3rd criterion. I thought talking about your interests was like classic aspie.

Anyway, I think the criteria in the eye contact regard is okay. I think the key thing is that they are lacking use of nonverbal communication in multiple areas... it shouldn't matter much how.

I dont get the 3rd one either. I make eye contact irregularly...most of the time, I look at people's mouths when they are talking. I glance at their eyes but usually dont have any idea how long to make eye contact, so I just dont. But when I talk to someone, I either make eye contact or I look somewhere else on their face. Sometimes, I look past them. Sometimes I look down and dont really look up (usually with strangers).

But some folks on here make on eye contact fine. The critera is always changing. I dont get that. I have heard some talk about eliminating aspergers from the critera and just labeling it as high functioning autism.

i do rather well with eye contact, and i have bin told several times (by my cousin's/nephew's) to shut up and quit talking about (whatever my special interest was at the time, or computers).

I've gone to a couple autistic spectrum meetings and everyone made excellent eye contact except for me. And from reading on here, I didn't think it would be like that.
I can make eye contact but if I'm going to be saying anything of importance or you're asking me questions, I usually look down to focus.

Any criteria has to be pretty vague when dealing with something as complex as AS.

I find that around people I'm confortable with, I have pretty good eye contact, but around strangers I have real trouble. It is even worse when I am in the presence of someone who has a position of power over me, ie. a doctor, or during a job interview. Then I become really self conscious about my eye contact, and have to keep reminding myself to look.

Most older Aspies I believe have become quite good at faking eye contact as a sort of social survival strategy to keep from being accused of being crazy. I have also have been accused of being "shifty looking" for lack of eye contact when I was younger but hardly anyone notices my eye contact now that I am in my 40's.

With me the eye contact problem comes and goes. It depends how stressed I am. Looking at someones eyes is not that bad. I don't think it is the most difficult thing to do. And often it depends on the person you interact with.

Its very hard for me. But I can still do it if I have to. The rest of the time I look stoned or something.
My flat mate yelled at me once "LOOK INTO MY EYES" screw her.

No it should not be given more weight. That would be like singling out just one particular way that nonverbal communication can be different for just some autistic people, and then putting it in the spotlight like it was different from all other aspects and more important. There's already too much emphasis on stereotypes and trivial things like that as it is. Well, I don't want to call it trivial. But elevating single details of specific people's variant of autism, to the point of making it sound absolutely necessary. That happens too much already, and some doctors even do it despite the fact that it isn't like that already. There are doctors who won't diagnose autism if a kid makes eye contact even if they have every single other autistic trait, for instance. That's just wrong. We don't need to give people that clueless more ammunition for their clueless behavior.