New report spotlights gaps in autism services in South Texas

San Antonio trails Austin, Dallas, Houston in number of pediatric neurologists

SAN ANTONIO – More than 23,000 people are living with autism in Bexar County alone – and the future of specialized providers to care for them could become a huge problem, according to a new report.

The research began in October 2015 and looked into the current supply and demand for professionals serving people with autism in San Antonio and surrounding areas.

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The problem with autism is that it’s hard to diagnose.

“If you have ASD (autism spectrum disorder) it is a subjective opinion and defining that and delivering that diagnosis, at times, is not a precise science,” said Doug Goulden, who is with Capital Healthcare Planning, the consulting firm that did the study.

The 151-page report commissioned by the Kronkosky Charitable Foundation also shows serious gaps in services for people with the condition.

One possible explanation is some general practitioners may be hesitant to suggest that a child has autism, according to the report.

It points to many pediatricians not being educated enough in the field.

Development behavioral pediatricians (DBP’s) are one of the physician specialties that typically diagnose autism.

There are 14 active DBP’s in the San Antonio area.

That number may seem low, but according to the research, the San Antonio area actually has more DBP’s than Houston, Dallas or Austin.

The report also found long wait times for diagnoses with some screening evaluation offices booked until next year. Experts said while the amount of providers is good for now they worry providers will age and leave the workforce.

The research shows the supply of medical doctors offering autism services would decrease by 18 percent by 2026. In contrast, the San Antonio area trails behind Houston, Dallas and Austin in the number of pediatric neurologists available.

The report also found the greater San Antonio area has not demonstrated the ability to train or attract providers equivalent to what our market needs.


About the Author:

Brina is the Executive Producer of the NightBeat and KSAT Explains. She has been with KSAT since 2015. She is a Houston native and proud to call San Antonio home.