What is considered 'significant social impairment.'

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Its a very non-concrete term that is driving me NUTS!
I am somewhat socially impaired, but I don't know if it is 'significant.'
I don't function well in groups larger than five or six people.
I tend to wander.
Group conversations usually go something like:
Someone: So, what do you think?
Me:um, well [really lame answer] uh [really lame explanation]…
Someone: [expresses need for clarification]
Me: I've got it all worked out in my head. Just can't verbalize it.
I tend to poke people.... its FUN!! !!
And...yeah. I just want to know an example of 'significant social impairment'.
Thanks!! !! !! !!

Significant social impairment... hmm...
A big no no in a social gathering or something?? Oh, well, when you obviously don't know how to act in a social situation! xD
Like me, for example, I tend to bite people (not hygienic, I know) and wonder (like you! ) and do a lot of random things/acts... like kicking a wall repetitively or poking my peers or.. well, just anything that doesn't seem normal whilst with a social group ^.^
Just lacking the term social really

Significant social impairment, in my opinion, means you are unable to communicate your wants and needs to others to the point that it is debilitating. Meaning if you are an adult, you are unable to hold a job not because you are not intelligent enough but because your social imparment gets you fired. If you are a student, you may not beable to handle a mainstream classroom setting, not because you cannot due the work but because your parents and/or teachers feel the social part of a mainstream classroom is too much for you.

I am not a doctor or any sort of professional in this field. It is only my opinion. I don't like gray areas either and I like to have distinct lines of definitions when possible.

I think there are many people with aspergers that have social problems but are not to the point of impairment. They are able to maintain a job, have a girl/boy friend, wife/husband. In other words they understand enough about society that they are able to interact/communicate enough with people to live their own lives.

I hope this is helpful to you.

I'd say it means that you make social mistakes which hurt people's feeling on a regular basis. Like not understanding a joke isn't hurting anyone but if like your friend gets cancer and you start blurting out the life expectancies of people with cancer I'd consider that social impairement.

Well, I'm usually very careful at not hurting people's feelings, and do an okay job at it. That doesn't mean I'm not significantly impaired. In the average school day, I'll say a couple dozen words total to my peers, and sit by myself at lunch. I don't choose to be that way, socializing is just HARD.

Well here's some of my examples.
I'm 17 (18 in 3 months) and my mom, grandmom, or who ever is with me still needs to speak for me most or all of the time when we go somewhere. At a restaurant/fast food place, they usually say my order. At the doctors, they do most of the talking. I've had a whole doctors office cracking up laughing one time because my mom had me go in first to sign in and I can be so oblivious sometimes and all the conversation was- LADY: "Hi." ME: *Looks at her real quick then starts to sign in, about 5 secs later,* "WHAT?!" LADY: Stares at me scared like, then* "i said hi..." ME: "Oh......hi." Then they all start laughing. It was pretty funny, though. When I went to meetings for starting college, my grandmom came with me even though your supposed to do it yourself.

I would not be able to make it completely on my own because I just can't do social situation well. I honestly don't think I will ever be able to live on my own without someone else helping me along the way. That's what is considered significant social impairments.