"I had an extremely positive experience at François Nicolle. What immediately struck me was how they focus on quality rather than quantity. You notice this in the attention and time they devote to you as a customer. On top of that, the environment in which this happens is pleasant and calm, something I personally always greatly appreciate.”
'Always interested in new technology
'"As a futurologist, I am always interested in new technology, and I understood that the latest hearing aids offer all sorts of extras compared to a ‘normal’ hearing device. For example, a translation function and the possibility to save texts you hear, even as written text. And various forms of noise suppression.
Now, I don’t have poor hearing. At least not worse than other people my age. But I still wanted to try out such a hearing aid and, of course, go straight for the most advanced one. That’s how I ended up with Starkey’s newest device with AI. This device indeed offers many new possibilities.”
'AI really is an enrichment'
“To start with, of course, the built-in artificial intelligence. Lately, you hear a lot of negative stories about AI, but in this device, it is truly an enrichment. The device automatically adapts to the environment. Whether I am driving, attending a concert at Paradiso, or walking through the Twiske, I always hear clear and natural sound.
And then the extras. My hearing aid does indeed translate (for example) Japanese. A while ago, I had to meet with a Japanese business contact, and I simply heard her in Dutch through my hearing aid. The ‘speech-to-text’ function can also be very useful at times. During a meeting, if I want, I can get the text transcribed via my phone.
I’ve now been wearing the hearing aids for over a month and what a difference compared to the situation without them. Everything now sounds much more lively, clearer, and sharper. You notice it when you take the devices out before going to sleep. Everything immediately sounds much duller. As if you’re hearing sound through a pane of glass. So, as far as I’m concerned, my Starkey device with AI is truly an expansion of possibilities on top of my normal hearing.
