Getting an Autism Diagnosis in Tulsa, Oklahoma

In the Tulsa area, autism evaluation is available through several routes, with the right one depending on your child's age and your insurance.

Where evaluations happen in the Tulsa area:

• Developmental-behavioral pediatricians and pediatric specialists at Tulsa health systems, including the Children's Hospital at Saint Francis
• OU Health / University of Oklahoma-Tulsa developmental services
• Private clinical psychologists and neuropsychologists specializing in autism
• Tribal health systems — for Native American families, the Cherokee Nation health system and other tribal health resources may offer or coordinate diagnostic evaluation
• Oklahoma City providers for complex cases or when Tulsa wait times are long

Wait times. Specialty autism evaluation wait times in Tulsa run several months to over a year, depending on the provider and current capacity. Demand for evaluation increased after SoonerCare added ABA coverage in 2019, since a diagnosis is required to access covered ABA. Some private providers offer shorter timelines, particularly with out-of-pocket payment.

Tulsa as a regional hub. Tulsa concentrates much of northeastern Oklahoma's diagnostic capacity. Rural families across the region frequently travel to Tulsa for specialty evaluation, as the diagnostic infrastructure isn't available in most smaller communities.

Tribal health and Native American families. For families connected to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Cherokee Nation, Osage Nation, and other tribal nations, tribal health systems may provide or coordinate autism evaluation. The Cherokee Nation operates one of the largest tribal health systems in the country.

For children under 3: You don't need to wait for a medical diagnosis to start services. Make a SoonerStart referral — Oklahoma's early intervention program serves children birth to 36 months based on developmental delay (no autism diagnosis required), and anyone can make a referral.

For school-age children: Request a special education evaluation from your school district in writing. School eligibility is determined independently of medical diagnosis, based on educational impact.