At what age is the TDSC used for a child?

A simple, India-made chart that helps spot early developmental concerns in the very first years — that is the TDSC.

In short

The Trivandrum Developmental Screening Chart (TDSC) is a quick, India-developed screening tool used for children from birth up to about 2 years of age (0–24 months). It is a screening tool, not a diagnosis — it flags whether a baby's development may need a closer look, across milestones like smiling, sitting, babbling and walking. A simple line of items is checked against the child's age, and any concern is a gentle prompt for fuller assessment, never a verdict.

What the TDSC is and how it is used

The TDSC was designed to be brief and practical, so that even busy clinics and community health settings can screen large numbers of young children for early developmental delay. It plots a child's age against a small set of expected developmental items; if a child has not reached the items expected for their age, the screen is considered to suggest possible delay and the child is referred onward for detailed evaluation. Because the earliest years are when the brain grows fastest, this 0–2 year window is exactly where early identification matters most — gentle, timely support during this period can make a remarkable difference. An expanded version extends screening into the older preschool years, but the original and most widely used TDSC focuses on infancy and early toddlerhood.

When to look further

A TDSC is a starting point, not the full picture. If a screen suggests a delay, or if you simply notice your baby is not smiling, holding their head, sitting, babbling or walking around the times other babies do, a developmental review is the right next step. Screening points the way; a proper clinical assessment understands the whole child.

The Pinnacle way

This is general information, not a diagnosis — a clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care, never from an app or chart alone. Our team uses structured, clinician-administered assessment to look at the whole picture of early development, then builds an individualised plan that may draw on speech therapy and other supports as needed.

Trusted sources

WHO Nurturing Care Framework on early childhood development and developmental monitoring; the American Academy of Pediatrics and HealthyChildren guidance on developmental surveillance and screening in infancy; CDC developmental milestone resources.

Next step — If your baby is under two and you would like reassurance about their development, book a developmental review to map their milestones and start any helpful support early.