Hi Kristin
I wouldn't worry about your son not really talking. Kids all develop at a different age and he could just start being a chatterbox in a couple of months. My kids are adults now but ea one talked at a different age. Now their the talkingest people I know besides me.
Anna
I had the same problem with my now-four-year-old.
Alex didn't speak but two words by age three. He would scream (it was horrible) because he couldn't make himself understood. We had his hearing tested (perfectly fine). By comparison his older brother was speaking in sentences by 18 months or so. It was frustrating for all of us.
You should be able to get your son assessed for speech delays at age three by your local school district. At that time, if he qualifies, he can receive speech therapy services from your school district. Mine has been in for over a year now and the progress he made just in four months was amazing--he still has some pronunciation issues that are being worked on but he's now mostly understandable and unless he's really tired and cranky the screeching has stopped.
When is the normal age to start talking? It just depends on the child. It's good that he's practicing with sounds but he may just need more time before he starts speaking. When we were worrying over Alex they checked comprehension and developmentally he was right on.
As long as yours is understanding what you're saying/asking and is practicing sounds I would sit back and see how it goes. Encourage him to say words but don't be frustrated if it doesn't happen. It may be that he will need speech therapy in 19 months but that's a major bonus, too--Alex has been in preschool two mornings a week with a speech therapist and the added benefit of being in a school program has helped him mature. As soon as his speech is where it should be he'll be exited from the program and that'll be that.
Over all--don't worry. He appears to be hearing and understanding you fine and the speech will come.
It looks like you have already gotten a ton of feedback, but I felt that I should still throw in my 2 cents. I had a little different situation, but none the less I was concerned about my child's language delays, and my pediatrician told me that he is a boy, that we are allowing him to be lazy, and that he will be just fine, so not to worry. I still wasn't comfortable with the wait & see approach, and I'm glad I pursued it, because my son has autism. He really needed to start therapies as soon as possible, and had I sat around & waited for him to talk on his own it would not have happened. So my advice is contact a speech therapist or regional center & have him evaluated. Maybe there is nothing to be concerned about, but I would rather be safe than regret it later.
Good Luck,
Jennifer
I wanted to say thanks for posting this i am going through the same thing right now! so thank you!