Hadassah On Call: New Frontiers in Medicine
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Season
6
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Episode
7

Navigating the Autism Spectrum

What causes autism? Can autism be cured with medication? What does the spectrum truly mean? All these questions and more are answered by Dr. Ariel Tenenbaum, head of the pediatric department and director of the Down syndrome clinic at Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem.

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IN THIS Episode
Guests

Dr. Ariel Tenenbaum

Area of specialty

Autism

Down Syndrome

Disabilities

Pediatric

Episode Transcript

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About this episode

In this episode of Hadassah On Call: New Frontiers in Medicine, host Maayan Hoffman is joined by Dr. Ariel Tenenbaum, head of the pediatric department and director of the Down syndrome clinic at Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem.

Dr. Tenenbaum is one of Israel's leading experts in pediatric disabilities, with a particular focus on autism and Down syndrome. He explains what autism is, how it's diagnosed and what the term "on the spectrum" means from a clinical perspective. With clarity and compassion, he walks us through the early signs parents should look out for — and why early detection is so critical.

"Autism is not one condition," Dr. Tenenbaum explains. "It's a spectrum, and every child presents differently. That's why personalized care and early intervention are so important."

Dr. Tenenbaum also explores the cutting-edge tools making a difference in diagnosis and treatment, including the growing role of artificial intelligence in identifying developmental delays earlier than ever before. He discusses why early intervention leads to better outcomes and how parents can navigate the overwhelming journey from diagnosis to support.

Dr. Tenenbaum also shares how war and trauma impact children with developmental disabilities — and how Hadassah is adapting to meet their unique needs during these challenging times.

Whether you're a parent or educator or want to understand more about autism and the broader field of intellectual and developmental disabilities, this is a must-listen conversation.

Further learning:


Hadassah On Call: New Frontiers in Medicine is a production of Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America. Hadassah enhances the health of people around the world through medical education, care and research innovations at the Hadassah Medical Organization. For more information on the latest advances in medicine, please head over to hadassah.org.

Subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcast, YouTube or your favorite podcast app. If you haven't already, please leave us a review. It only takes a minute, and when you do, it helps others discover Hadassah On Call.

The show is hosted by Maayan Hoffman and produced by the team at the Hadassah offices in New York and Israel.

This episode includes promotions for:

Our recent episode with Dr. Saar Hashavya
If you are enjoying this episode, you’ll want to check out our previous episode with Dr. Saar Hashavya, head of the Pediatric Emergency Department at Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem. Dr. Hashavya gives listeners an inside look into the emergency room. You can find this episode on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts, or on the web at hadassah.org.

Hadassah's Virtual Programming
Have you checked out Hadassah's virtual programming? If you're looking for engaging, entertaining and informative programming, Hadassah is here for you. Throughout the year, Hadassah presents outstanding online programming open to everyone, featuring top-tier speakers and panels. It's a great way to stay connected with us. Some of our most recent programs include the taping of our first in-person event of our widely popular national online book series, One Book, One Hadassah, an insightful conversation on how we can safeguard Jewish students on campus and a discussion about what makes a book Jewish. Check out more about our virtual programming at go.hadassah.org/programming.

About our guest(s)

Dr. Ariel Tenenbaum is the head of the pediatric department and director of the Down syndrome clinic at Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem. A graduate of Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical School, he completed his pediatric residency at the same institution, where he continues to serve as a senior pediatric consultant and educator.

In 2004, Dr. Tenenbaum was appointed head of Israel’s pioneering Down syndrome program at Hadassah. He went on to co-found the hospital's pre-adoption clinic in 2005 with Prof. Isaiah D. Wexler, and in 2012, he launched the Hadassah Intellectual and Developmental Disability Multidisciplinary Evaluation Center in partnership with the Ministry of Social Affairs.

Dr. Tenenbaum also co-founded the Disability Studies Center at the Hadassah-Hebrew University, where he teaches students across the humanities and social sciences. He was recently appointed as a consultant in child development and, in 2019, was elected to the Israeli Pediatric Association Committee, where he serves as scientific secretary.

His primary research interests include disabilities, adoption, chronic diseases and general pediatrics. Dr. Tenenbaum has authored numerous scientific articles, contributed to book chapters and edited several academic volumes.