I have a little boy, 20 months on the 1/11/07. He has not met a number of his milestones yet. He doesn't speak although he does babble and sing. He's interactive, affectionate and happy. But he doesn't seem to understand concepts or what I'm trying to teach him. I have tried to teach him the names of items, e.g. a light, but when I ask him again what it is, he just laughs at me. He also doesn't understand what his cup is, although he does understand what his dummy is, what his feet are when I need to put socks on and he comes when I call him. And he answers me as well when I call, although just with a sound rather than a word.
He was born at just over 36 weeks and had no problems post delivery to account for these delays. I am very concerned. Have taken him to a developmental paediatrician who has referred him for speech therapy and a hearing test. But I'm still worried.Is there anyone else out there who has had similar problems with a child of this age?

I wouldn't worry yourself to death. I am about to have "the tests" done on my 29mo. He just started talking where WE (noone else) can understand him. I was in speech therapy for 4yrs myself. It's a great program and those therapists work wonders. Good luck!

I wouldn't worry too much. I was worried when my daughter didn't start talking at the "milestone" marker. I talked to her pediatrician and he said not to worry... that one day she will just start and let out all kinds of words. He said if she got past 24 months and still wasn't talking to come see him again.

Right when she turned 2 it happened just like he said... one day she started saying all kinds of words, and they just progressed that whole week... she just kept talking and talking and is now almost 6 and I don't think she's stopped :)

Do the speech and hearing test to ease your mind. As long as those come out normal, just continue what you are doing at home. Make sure not to use "made up" words for anything. (My cousins toddler started calling chocolate milk 'beebop', she thought it was cute and called it that too... he is 5 and still calls it that!)

He will talk when he's ready :)