Intro
A common accessory provided with hearing aids is a TV adapter. The TV adapter broadcasts the audio signal directly to hearing aids, allowing for greater clarity than relying on the sound that is coming out of television or discrete speakers. However, sometimes no sound is heard even after everything is hooked up. This is a general troubleshooting guide for TV adapters of all brands.
RCA vs. Optical
Most TV adapters accept input from either either RCA or optical input.
The RCA cable has red and white plugs on each end.
The optical cable has an almost square shaped plug on one end, and either the same plug on the other end, or a thin barrel plug. You must have the proper cable for your TV adapter. The optical cable itself may have protective caps on the tips which need to be removed.
Some TV adapters have coaxial (yellow jack) or 3.5mm (minijack) inputs. The coaxial input is very uncommon and is outside the scope of this article. The minijack input works with a 3.5mm male-male cable if you wish to connect the TV adapter with common electronic devices such as computers or smartphones.
Television Compatibility Check
Position the TV so that it’s easily accessible from all sides. Most TVs have the input jacks located on the rear of the TV, but some have additional jacks on one of the sides.
You may see multiple jacks colored red/white/yellow next to each other. These are input jacks with composite and RCA audio in. Though the RCA cable fits, these jacks won’t work with the TV adapter because they are input jacks, not output jacks. Note that most modern TVs no longer have RCA audio output jacks. Only red/white output jacks that specifically say “audio out” will work.
The optical jack is typically covered, is labeled digital audio out, and will only accept the cable in one orientation. Push the cable through the cover and it will snap into place. If it doesn’t fit, rotate the cable’s plug and try again. The other end of of the cable that goes into the TV adapter will be another square plug, or a thin barrel plug depending on what the TV adapter accepts.
TV Adapter Check
If using the RCA cable, the input jacks on the TV adapter will look the same as the output jacks on the TV.
If using the optical cable, you may see two optical jacks. One is an input jack, and one is a passthrough output jack for external audio devices such as a soundbar. Make sure the optical cable is plugged into the input jack. This optical jack may have a pink cover.
Confirming the Connection
TV adapters have indicator lights which will confirm a connection. Check your model’s manual for specific details. However, keep in mind that while it may show that a connection is made, that doesn’t necessarily mean that there is a real audio signal being sent to the TV adapter. Double-check your television’s settings to ensure that the audio is outputting properly.
Still having problems?
If you are still experiencing issues with your TV adapter, we are always here to help. Please initiate a livechat, or contact our TeleSupport hotline at 1-833-TELESUP (835-3787). The hotline number is open Monday to Friday, 9AM to 5PM Eastern time.