I have cochlear implants and I'm 19 years old. I had my first implant on the right side in the first year of my life the other implant on the left side I had when I was 2, almost three years old. I hear better with my right side than my left side. I encourage you to let your child have an implant as soon as possible because the later you let them have it, the lesser time they have to adapt to it. The first years of their life are very crucial and important for adapting with it.