Wow, Karen, thanks for the link. Very interesting reading -- I intend to follow-up on UW's research.
S7 has no problems with being touched -- actually he has the opposite problem: he craves strongly pressured contact with others. He loves hugging other people, especially other children. It's now not quite as bad as when he was younger, but he still keeps sneaking hugs out of S3 every chance he gets (S3 gets tired of it at times and pushes S7 away.) When S7 was younger he would approach a stranger, a little girl or some other small child in public and have this urge to hug them out of the blue. It would sometimes alarm some parents and children. Some found it strange but cute.
As for the big-head trait, it certainly runs in my family, especially on my father's side. S7 certainly has a big noggin', just like his dad. S3 who appears to be perfectly neurotypical has an even larger melon for his age than his older brother, for what that's worth. (Unfortunately for my W, our S's somewaht larger than usual craniums caused her untold problems in birthing them. In fact, my W's MLC began in earnest about the time she got herself "repaired" as a result of S3's entry into the world.)
On my W's side of the family, particularly her mother's side, there are also some really ripe candidates for Autism-Spectrum disorder. My MIL is certainly empathy-challenged. I have mentioned that W's cousin has a daughter who suffers from seizures and NLD (Non-verbal Learning Disability). NLD is considered a "kissing cousin" (if you will) to Asperger's. But my W never discusses it.
Your MIL is a nurse too? And might have AS? You don't say! That is very interesting indeed.
