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What happens when you connect radio aids to a television, options for connecting radio aids.

When you connect a radio aid to the TV via relevant adaptors, the sound is sent directly to the young person’s receivers on their hearing devices, improving the quality of the sound they hear. Others can still hear the content through the TV speakers. 

There are different options for connecting radio aids to the television.

Coaxial or Toslink

If your television has a digital optical out socket or coaxial socket, you can buy a toslink or coaxial kit to connect the radio to the television. 

All sound should come out of both the radio aid and television speakers, including: 

  • direct streaming on the television
  • external inputs, for example Sky or Virgin box, DVDs

You may need to adjust your sound output on your television menu to a standard 2-channel stereo audio output.

You can buy a toslink or coaxial kit on the Connevans site.

Scart to Phono adaptor

If your television has a scart socket on the back, you can use a scart to phono adaptor. 

The sound comes directly from the television. Any sound either directly from the television or an external input, such as a Sky box, or DVDs, will be heard.

You can buy a Scart to Phono adaptor on the Connevans website.

Connecting directly to a Sky box

Sky boxes have phono sockets on the back that can be used to connect the radio aid to the audio delivered from the Sky box using a simple phono lead.

The young person will only hear sound from the Sky box through their radio aid. They won’t hear other sources such as DVDs or online streaming direct from the TV.

You can buy a phono lead to connect to a Sky box from the Connevans website.

HDMI audio extractor

You can use a HDMI audio extractor to connect a radio aid to your TV if you’re using an external input that connects to your TV via HDMI, for example a Virgin Media box, Sky box, or fire stick. 

If the young person experiences any unwanted noise through other options, the HDMI audio extractor typically overcomes the issue. 
The young person will only hear sound from the HDMI source, not any internal sources from the television, for example if you were to stream content on a smart television.

You can also use a HDMI audio extractor to connect a radio aid to a smart board.

You can buy a HDMI audio extractor from the Connevans website.

Contact us
Sensory Support Service
Elmfield House
Greystoke Avenue
Westbury-on-Trym
BS10 6AY

Phone: 0117 903 8442
Text: 07407 814 763
Email: sensorysupportservice@bristol.gov.uk