Michael Davidovitch

Maccabi Healthcare Organization · Child Development & Maccabitech

The current study examined longitudinal associations between early screen media exposure (assessed at 6, 12, and 24 months) and the child's motor and language/communication development at the ages of 24 and 36 months. We also aimed to study whether these associations varied by socioeconomic status (SES). Participants were 179 parent‐infant dyads, r...

Despite increasing awareness for diagnosing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and initiating treatments early in life, many children and adolescents continue to be diagnosed at a relatively older age. Focusing on children who first received an ASD diagnosis at age six or older, this study aimed to describe the symptoms that parents reported when ASD w...

Parental mobile device use while parenting has been associated with reduced parental responsiveness and increased negative affect among children. However, it remains unclear whether it can interfere with the process of acquiring social communication skills. Thus, this study sought to experimentally examine whether maternal mobile phone use while in...

Background: The diagnosis of Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is primarily dependent on parents’ and teachers’ reports, while children’s own perspectives on their difficulties and strengths are often overlooked. Goal: To further increase our insight into children’s ability to reliably report about their ADHD-related symptoms, the cu...

Previous epidemiological investigations suggested that maternal thyroid anomalies are a possible causal factor in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in progeny, yet clinical trials indicated levothyroxine treatment was ineffective in preventing neurodevelopmental impairments. We used an Israeli cohort of 385,542 singleton births betwee...

The present study examined the impact of maternal mobile phone use during motherchild interaction on infants' physiological and behavioral reactivity (i.e., heart rate and negative affect). In this experimental study, 106 mother-infant (M age = 11.88 months; 51% male) dyads were randomly assigned to one of three experimental conditions. All conditi...

Background To provide insight on physicians’ perspectives concerning recent changes in the incidence and diagnostic process of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) compared to other mental and neurodevelopmental disorders. Method A questionnaire was sent to 191 specialists in child neurology and child development, and 200 child psychiatrists in Israel....

We analyzed data on 879,029 children born in 1999–2017 from a large Israeli health fund to evaluate time‐trends in incidence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This included examining possible effects associated with the adaptation of the DSM‐5 criteria for ASD, and the implementation of regulatory changes affecting eligibility for ASD‐related stip...

Fetal exposure to elevated androgens is thought to contribute to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) risk. However, data rely heavily on in utero androgens measurements, which also reflect fetal secretions. Thus, in utero hyperandrogenemia may indicate adverse autism-related neurogenesis that had already occurred affecting fetal androgen homeostasis, ra...

Background: Maternal thyroid dysfunction is suspected of causing adverse neurodevelopmental effects, but current evidence is inconclusive. Epidemiologic investigations generally suggest an association between maternal thyroid dysfunction and neurodevelopment impairments in progeny, but clinical trials of thyroid treatment during pregnancy reported...

To evaluate the association between major neonatal morbidities and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children and adolescents born of very low birth weight (VLBW). Historical cohort study using the Israel national VLBW infant database linked with the Maccabi Healthcare Services (MHS) medical records. The study cohort comprised 4963 VLBW subjects bo...

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), one of the most prevalent childhood disorders today, is generally more likely to be diagnosed and treated in boys than in girls. However, gender differences in ADHD are currently poorly understood, partly because previous research included only a limited proportion of girls and relied mainly on subje...

Objective: To examine whether there is an association between the cumulative dose of folic acid (FA) purchased by mothers, and risk of autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) in their progeny. Methods: We identified 2009 singletons who received an ASD diagnosis from a cohort of 480,526 children born in a large health organization in Israel from 2000 t...

Objective: Previous studies suggest that psychiatric disorders are associated with problematic use of screen media. This article systematically reviews the literature on the associations between screen media and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The review uses the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Method...

This study was designed to track the developmental trajectory, during the first 24 months of life, of 335 low-risk infants later diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and identify early deviations observed in routine Well Care checkups. We compared their achievements to typically developing children and to children later diagnosed with non-autist...

We aimed to examine the effects of infertility treatments on the risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Data were from a representative national registry on 110,093 male live births in Israel (born: 1999-2008; and ASD: 975, 0.9%). Infertility treatments included In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), and five hormone treatments. Relative risk (RR) was esti...

Over the last few decades there has been a significant worldwide increase in the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the causes of which are unknown. The biggest environmental change over this decade has been the massive introduction of cellphones. Eye contact is fundamental for infants' development, and parent-infant eye contact is impair...

Androgens have an extensive influence on brain development in regions of the brain that are relevant for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), yet their etiological involvement remains unclear. Hypospadias (abnormal positioning of the urethral opening) and cryptorchidism (undescended testes) are 2 relatively common male birth defects that are strongly as...

Background: There is a global trend of large increases in the prevalence and incidence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This study aimed to address potential causes of these major changes. Methods: The authors used a large cohort to analyze data employing patients' electronic medical records, with physicians' diagnosis of ADHD...

Describe a cohort of children who received a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) after age 6 and after having undergone a comprehensive multidisciplinary assessment before the age of 6, through which they were not diagnosed with ASD. Extensive chart review of patients' electronic medical records comprised a representative population-based r...

We analyzed data from the Israeli National Insurance Institute (NII). Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) incidence was calculated for all children born in Israel 1992-2009, and by population groups. Overall, 9,109 ASD cases among 2,431,649 children were identified. ASD cumulative incidence by age 8 years increased 10-fold during 2000-2011, from 0.49 %...

Background: The dramatic increase in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) prevalence has been attributed to the broadening of diagnostic criteria, greater awareness, improved case finding methods, and the development of services for children with ASD. Diagnostic substitution has also been suggested as a reason for this increase, with several studies po...

In addition to the primary symptoms that distinguish one disorder from the next, clinicians have identified, yet largely overlooked, another set of symptoms that appear across many disorders, termed secondary symptoms. In the emerging era of systems neuroscience, which highlights that many disorders share common deficits in global network features,...

The prevalence of autism spectrum disorders has been steadily rising. In most parts of the world, rates as high as 1 % are reported, including in the United States. In Israel, previously reported prevalence rates have been in the 0.2 % range, and were based on parental reporting of diagnosis. In this study, records from one of the largest Israeli H...

Silver-Russell syndrome (SRS) is a heterogeneous syndrome which is characterized by severe intrauterine and postnatal growth retardation and typical dysmorphic features. In 5-10% of SRS patients, a maternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 7 (UPD7) can be detected. We describe a 4.5-y old boy. Physical examination at the age of 4.5 y was remarkable...

Background: There is a dramatic rise in the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) being reported around the world, and these figures are steadily increasing. In the United States alone, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported an overall average prevalence of 9.0 per 1,000 individuals (0.90%) in 2006. However, to-date, data on inciden...

The prevalence of macrocephaly in autism spectrum disorder is reported to be much higher than in the general population, 12% to 37%. Progressive macrocephaly is even considered a warning sign for the development of autism. We evaluated the prevalence of an abnormal head circumference in children with autism in Israel and compared it with the head c...

Neal Miller's research on animals and humans launched the field of self-regulation, enabling individuals to take a more active role in their health and well-being. However, his inquiry into whether autonomic operant conditioning occurs remains open to debate. This article contends that present-day biofeedback therapists continue to be confronted by...

To evaluate the neurodevelopmental outcome of children with prenatally diagnosed head circumference greater than 2 SD above the mean for gestational age and no associated anomalies detected by ultrasound. This was a retrospective study of 17 fetuses, diagnosed in the third trimester by ultrasound as having isolated macrocephaly, defined as head cir...

Macrocephaly is defined as an enlargement of the head circumference above the 98th percentile or greater than two standard deviations above the mean normalized for age and gender. The diagnosis of enlarged head circumference can be made by ultrasound, during pregnancy. This condition may be caused by enlargement of any of the head's compartments. W...

Background: An increased incidence of macrocephaly has been found among autistic children estimated at 20%. Brain development in autism shows accelerated growth in early life that results in brain enlargement in childhood. Based on this consistent finding in a subgroup of children with autism, theories have been raised regarding the relationship...

This study examined the effect of the frequency of physical therapy on the outcome of infants referred for delayed motor development due to joint hypermobility and benign hypotonia. The study groups comprised 29 infants (8-12 months) who were randomly placed into a monthly and weekly treatment groups. No difference was found between the 2 study gro...

Norrie disease (ND) is a rare X-linked recessive disorder characterized by congenital blindness and in some cases, mental retardation and deafness. Other neurological complications, particularly epilepsy, are rare. We report on a novel mutation identified in a patient with ND and profound mental retardation. The patient was diagnosed at the age of...

Deficient visuomotor tracking in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been described, but the specific influence of attention on this deficit has not yet been elucidated. The present study compares visuomotor tracking under different conditions of attentional loading in children with ADHD with that of age-matched contro...

Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder. The incidence rate and other related epidemiological characteristics of the Israeli population are not available. To assess the incidence rate of autism in the Haifa area and to compare family characteristics with previous reports from other countries. We approached facilities in the Haifa area that are...

Specific learning disability in childhood is frequently associated with attention deficit disorder. The distinction between children with and without such comorbidity is often difficult to make. Our aim was to delineate the neurocognitive and behavioural differences between children with specific learning disabilities, with and without attention de...

We compared growth parameters in infants with language delay to those in children with global delay and to typical controls. Thirty infants with expressive language delay and 36 with combined expressive and receptive language delay were compared with 27 infants with general development delay and with 124 controls. Data on weight, height, head circu...

Developmental regression among children with autism is a common phenomenon of unknown origin. The purpose of this study was to identify the differences between children with autism who reportedly regressed with those who did not regress. A representative group of 39 mothers were interviewed (40 children--1 pair of twin girls) about familial, pregna...

The prevalence of attentional problems, and the effect of methylphenidate was evaluated in a clinic population of children with myelomeningocele. Families of 79 children between the ages of 6 and 15 years were screened for the presence of attention problems in their children, using Conners' questionnaires for parents and teachers, and/or the DSM-IV...

The prevalence of attentional problems, and the effect of methylphenidate was evaluated in a clinic population of children with myelomeningocele. Families of 79 children between the ages of 6 and 15 years were screened for the presence of attention problems in their children, using Conners' questionnaires for parents and teachers, and/or the DSM-IV...

Our objective was to delineate the educational and behavioral differences between learning disabled children with and without attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A restrospective (TROHOC) multimeasure comparative design was employed. Parents' and teachers' questionnaires (ANSER system) pertaining to attention-activity, associated behav...

The prevalence and types of behavioural problems among legally blind children were assessed by employing a cohort study design in a well defined geographic area. One hundred and eighty two children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years were consecutively assessed over a period of 13 years. A standardized ophthalmological, neurodevelopmental and...

To assess head circumference in children with autism, 148 charts were retrospectively reviewed. All of the children met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III or DSM-III-R) criteria for autism and had no known underlying condition that might affect head circumference. In addition, data were collected regarding height, we...

The incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis in Israel is largely unknown, as is the impact of this condition on the neurological diseases of childhood. We examined the association between toxoplasmosis and three neurological disorders: epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and nerve deafness. Ninety-five children 1–15 years of age who had one of these three diag...

Joint hypermobility is associated with motor developmental delay in infancy. To assess this finding in school-aged children, 320 first- and second-grade elementary school children and 110 children attending a special education program were assessed. Joint hypermobility was found in 40 (12.4%) and seven (6.4%) of the children attending the regular a...

Genital prolapse in the female infant during the neonatal period is relatively rare and is usually associated with anomalies of the central nervous system. A case of vaginal prolapse in a small-for-gestational-age preterm female infant, without any associated nervous system anomalies, is presented. The clinical presentation, diagnostic approach, ma...

The Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale was administered and analyzed in the cases of 25 full-term infants in order to assess the relationship between a behavioral measure of excitability and respiratory habituation. Sound and light stimuli were sequentially delivered, and prestimulus and poststimulus respiratory amplitude mean and stand...