My DS will be 2 just after christmas. The only words he says on a regular basis are ta (when giving me something or wanting something), hiya and whatzat (when looking or pointing at something). He has come out with other words over the past few months (fish, christmas tree, mama, cat) but he says them loads for a day or two and then they seem to vanish and he doesn't say them again.
He can now do some animal noises (fish, lion, cat, pig) but if I ask him what a pig does, he doesn't always say the right one or anything but every time he sees peppa pig, he does it.
I do know quite a few people who have known children who haven't spoken until their 2nd/3rd year but they usually say that the child did understood most things.
My DS does understand some things (give grandma a kiss, twirl, clap hands, wheres your milk etc) but there is a lot he doesn't understand. I think he understands the word no but doesn't stop what he is doing, in fact he does the thing worse or laughs while he is doing it.
Apart from that he is a very happy sociable child, who loves spending time with people, and other children. He has good eye contact, doesn't mind a change to his routine and is quite happy to be left at nursery or with my parents (although occasionally he does have a clingy moment).
He did have a problem with his walking too but when that was followed up, it was found that he had hyperlaxity (double jointedness) and that was why. Sometimes, I'm not sure if he is slow to talk because it took him so long and so much effort to walk.
My DH had to have an operation on his ear tubes when he was younger and he is convinced that DS has something similar. DH was in a lot of pain and used to hit his head against the wall. DS bangs his head on his cot just before he goes to sleep.
In the summer we visited a speech therapy evaluation and they didn't show us that they had any concerns but said they will see him in 6 months which will be after the new year.
My mum just thinks he is slow but I am getting very worried.