Medical Evaluation and Diagnosis

Obtaining a Medical Evaluation and Diagnosis

There are several questions to ask when considering obtaining a medical evaluation or diagnosis of an ASD. If your child has been educationally identified with autism through a school evaluation which includes instruments such as CARS, GARS, ADI-R or ADOS, keep in mind that private diagnostic professionals will use some of the same instruments to make a medical diagnosis. However, private professionals may give you additional information above and beyond an educational identification about your child. Private professionals may also be able to provide evaluations of co-morbid conditions, such as anxiety. Private professionals can also work closely with your child’s primary physician to coordinate treatment of possible physical issues that many accompany autism, such as seizure disorders, genetic disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, or sleep dysfunction. Private professionals who can diagnose autism include psychologists, psychiatrists, developmental pediatricians and neurologists. For more information about a medical diagnosis of autism, contact your primary care physician. To review a list of diagnosticians in the Tulsa area, click here.