DVCal wrote:
If ASD is a single condition, why such the wide variations.
There's your problem. Who says that ASD is a single condition? It is a spectrum of symptoms with many possible causes ("polygenic"). In fact, psychological conditions are often quite difficult to define, which is why the DSM keeps changing its mind. People present with all kinds of combinations of symptoms. There is no physical test that identifies them or distinguishes one condition from another. It is very common for people to have multiple symptoms that overlap other conditions - eg ADHD, OCD, Tourette's, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, etc.