Phonak TV Connector

On this channel I cover hearing loss related topics from my own experiences.
Topics may include:
-challenging situations
-education for family, friends as well as coworkers
-strategies and tips to improve communication
-assistive hearing devices to boost hearing
-hearing loss community
-technology for medical professionals with hearing loss
----
I am not a hearing or ear specialist (Audiologist or ENT), however, I do consider myself an expert on my own hearing loss. I hold a Peer Mentoring Certification from Gallaudet University.
----
Music
► Music Credit: 'Low Frequency Music'
Track Name: 'Opportunity'
Music By: Low Frequency Music @ / user-551516820
Official "Low Frequency Music" KZbin Channel HERE - / lowfrequencym. .
► DOWNLOAD this track HERE - www.chilloutrecordsmusic.com/
License for commercial use: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported "Share Alike" (CC BY-SA 3.0) License.
Full License HERE - creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Music promoted by NCM goo.gl/fh3rEJ @ www.LoFi-HipHop.com
----
Deaf and HoH Links
Gallaudet University: www.gallaudet.edu
Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA): www.hearingloss.org
Phonak hearing aids: www.phonak.com/us/en/hearing-...
Phonak ComPilot II : www.phonak.com/us/en/hearing-...
Phonak RemoteMic: www.phonak.com/us/en/hearing-...
Phonak TV Connector: www.phonak.com/us/en/hearing-...
----
Medical Professionals Links
ThinkLabs Stethoscope: www.thinklabs.com/hearing-aids
Littmann Core Digital Stethoscope: www.littmann.com/3M/en_US/lit...
----
Want to do yoga? Go to my yoga channel
Yoga by DD: / @yogabydd9332
----
#yogabydd
#healthyhearingloss

[@TeresaHesslerImprovingWorld]

Regarding the problem you raised of 2 people with hearing aids using the same TV Connector, if you install the Phonak app on your phone, you can control the volume from the TV--> Hearing Aids using the app. If you wear hearing aids in both ears, the app even has an option to adjust the volume in your left hearing aid and right hearing aid separately.

[@onthego6889]

Hi there. I have the phonak audeo. For about almost 2 years. I tried for the last 6-12 to connect with blue tooth to our Samsung that now has spurring sound and a sound bar. What a hassle. Just bought the TV connector last week and well with all the cables and stuff behind our console for the 85 inch TV and sound bar there was no way I was going to figure it out. So I called the TV guy who installed everything and did it after buying another device and more cables. It is the most magical thing! Just us the app to disconnect from connector or lower volume. It is a beautiful thing.

[@healthyhearingloss9953]

Onthego! Thank you for sharing your story. I feel like tech is advanced that we just need to find the right person who can just figure it out. I love the TV connector, best thing ever!

[@watermain48]

What a fantastic video. Thank you for sharing it. I'm about to get new Phonak Audeo hearing aids next week along with the TV streamer from the VA.

[@caznden]

This is a Wonderful “Run Down” and so easy to understand, Thank you, Mine is in the Mail, Very Excited, Good Luck Thanks !

[@mrsmith1339]

I just got a tv connector from the Veterans Administraion. I also just got Phonak Audeo Paradise 90 hearing aids. The connector retails of $399 from Phonak. It does improve the TV sound, but does limit the ability to converse with others. There is no mute feature, and I am used to muting commercials.Muting the tv does not mute the sound through the Phonak tv connector. The hearing aids themselves have a TV program which is not quite as effecctive as the TV connector, but I can mute the tv and carrry on a conversation. It has only been 9 days I am still fine tuning.

[@Floatflyer1]

I just bought my connector through Costco. As I tried to connect it to my 10+yr old Sony, I discovered that there was no "jack" that would accept the Phonak jack. In this video and what I was told at Costco, one is supposed to plug into the Audio Out jack. Not possible in my case, I want a new tv anyway, sigh. Further along in this video during the actual insertion of plug into jack, she says "Optical". I "think" this might be the correct terminology. In any case, a very useful video and when I get things sorted out, will revisit.

[@Tomc8030]

Thak you for sharing. I've been thinking about ordering one but wasn't sure how they work. I'm going for one now.... FYI your video was excellent.

[@alspencer2794]

I noticed you did not mention Phonak’s APP. With it you can toggle in and out of the tv connector, adjust volume and adjust between more or less room surround sound. The app takes the enjoyment of the tv connector to another level.

[@healthyhearingloss9953]

Alfred Spencer. Oh wow! I hadn't even thought of this!!! I will have to check this out, thanks for sharing!

[@healthyhearingloss9953]

Hi Alfred Spencer, I would love to include your comment in my updated TV Connector video coming up in the next few weeks, would that be okay? This is information can benefit others considering or using the TV Connector. Thanks.

[@alspencer2794]

@@healthyhearingloss9953 Good to hear from you. (Little pun there) Feel free to use this. The Phonak APP is a powerful tool and is what makes the hearing aids so great. I would not want to use the hearing devices without it. Al

[@liyo4950]

It took quite a bit of trying to get this app to work. Mostly, it kept not connecting to the left hearing aid. After trying many, many, times I finally got it to work. This is the app you can download on your cell phone. But, once I got it to work it works great. I can stop background noise, like at a mall or restaurant, while listening to my music from my cell phone app or from someone talking to me. The app was very frustrating but I'm glad I finally got it to work!

[@liyo4950]

The VA has been providing these newer style hearing aids to vets. Check it out, if you are a vet covered under the VA medical care. They also provide the TV device.

[@mervynwhitcombe8022]

I want one of these, but my audiologist can’t get them at the moment and they are approximately £15 dearer on Amazon approximately $20 US, compared to the price from my audiologist, a great review, you have sold it to me

[@FreezingFaces]

£15 is hardly the end of the world, jeez

[@tonnihaugebilde2809]

@@FreezingFaces Remember, if on a budget, every penny count. this even if for the moment... Please be kind!

[@liyo4950]

This device you show us costs $188 on Amazon. And, if you have more than one TV you want to watch, such a device, you have to have one for every TV unless you want to move the Phonak device to those other TVs every time you switch TVs. If you have 3 TVs then you have to have 3 of these devices....and that is about $564. Those other, earlier Phonak TV devices, used with the older style of hearing aids using the Phonk Compilot II, are much cheaper.

[@gailcolburn819]

Does TV connector work when using the Roku ?

[@lauradilworth7208]

I got a tv connector two weeks ago. I find it great .Like you said sound from the tv goes straight into the hearing aids..But i am wondering if it is safe to leave it pluged into the socket all the time.Coluld it over heat.?

[@healthyhearingloss9953]

Hi Laura, I am glad you are finding the TV connector helpful! Makes a world of difference. I think because the TV connector is so small and uses very little electricity that it wouldn't be a problem leaving it plugged in, but it's a great question to ask Phonak for sure.

[@lauradilworth7208]

@@healthyhearingloss9953 Thank you for your reply..I am really enjoying my new way of hearing the tv and radio.Hope you are to.😀

[@lynntapley4731]

I didn’t hear you explain the pairing?

[@richardjames6812]

I called Phonak to ask and also asked my hearing aid provider and could not get a real answer from either. I wanted to know if the sound streaming into your hearing aids is the sound coming from the TV itself (which is usually bad sound) or coming from the sound system I paid to enjoy the surround sound and the woofer. They couldn't tell me.

[@healthyhearingloss9953]

Hi Richard, I am curious...would you be connecting the TV connector to the TV or the sound system? I can only assume that whatever device you connect too would capture the sound of that device...I wish I had the answer but I only use the TV audio which is good for me.

[@richardjames6812]

@@healthyhearingloss9953 Well, that makes sense. Thank you for your reply..

[@samlogan8096]

The Phonak device does not use the TV speakers. GIven the optical connector comes from the TV, I don't think a Sound Bar would be involved. Most TV audio systems are pretty good, it is the small internal speakers which degrade the sound.

[@tiktokok1573]

Hi, I have a phonak tv connector but it doesn't have the volume buttons or power button on top... is this an old model??

[@healthyhearingloss9953]

Hi Tiktok O'K, sounds like it may be an older version. Does it work?

[@margaretannwhalen98]

Can the tv connector work on other hearing aids ???? Like resounds

[@healthyhearingloss9953]

Hi Margaret, I looked on the Phonak Website and it says it doesn't connect to other wireless hearing aids besides the Phonak Paradise, Marvel, and Audeo. Here is the link www.phonakpro.com/us/en/support/product-support/wireless-accessories/tv-connector/compatibility-tv-connector.html#:~:text=The%20TV%20Connector%20is%20compatible,hearing%20aids%20are%20not%20compatible. However, if you contact your Audiologist, he/she may be able to tell you if there is a device for Resound. Here is what I found on Resound website: www.resound.com/en-us/hearing-aids/accessories/tv-hearing-aid

[@paulthompson2066]

Does anyone know if the VA covers the phonak TV connector? And can you still answer phone calls with your hearing aids when connected to tv?

[@samlogan8096]

VA provided a Phonak TV connector when I received new Phonak hearing aids this week. It is very good. I know the hearing aids also need to be compatible, not all have this feature. The optical digtal connection to my TV permits me to hear the TV at a level comfortable to me without others hearing the TV speakers. It is the best!

[@edwardlandgren1974]

I will getting the Phonak TV connector but have seen other videos where they say it can't be used with sound bars. True?

[@healthyhearingloss9953]

Hi Edward Landgren, I have not personally used a sound bar with the TV connector and I haven't seen any videos about it. Ummm. I will research.

[@waynebeck7801]

If your sound bar is using the optical out from the tv there would be no way to connect the TV connector. If the sound bar can connect to the tv via HDMI the optical port would free to connect the TV connector.

[@user-wu9fj6vx8q]

I have a problem with speech clarity. I am 92 yes old. Does this device help with this problem? Thank you

[@healthyhearingloss9953]

I feel it greatly improved speech clarity for me!!! :)

[@donnaberscht5320]

I got the hearing aids how much is the tv connector

[@healthyhearingloss9953]

Hi Donna, I have heard people paying around $150-399 for the Phonak TV connector. I got my from my audiologist...I believe it was around $200. Maybe check out Ebay for cheaper. Since the making of this video I have used it every day and seriously I don't think I could live without it. In my option, it is worth the price.

[@carolradcliffe2645]

@@healthyhearingloss9953 I got mine at Costco for 99.00$ week ago

[@ambydaly5713]

Isn’t it just a blue tooth adapter?

[@healthyhearingloss9953]

I hope I’m understanding your question correctly. The TV connector connects through Bluetooth to hearing aids that has Bluetooth capabilities.

[@bjre.wa.8681]

@@healthyhearingloss9953 Somehow this is different from Bluetooth. I spent close to two weeks trying to make a BT adapter work on my computer as I do a lot of KZbin streaming and get phone calls intermintaly. BT require pairing a LOT and sometimes just wouldn't pair (very frustrating). Finally went with the TV connector. This was what I needed. I've two units, one for work and one for home. Just this week I had an occasion to use the multi user feature but the other fellow refused to try to pair to the TV connector as he was afraid to loose connectivty to his phone. He just did not trust the system and didn't want to have to make a appointment with the audiologist to get it to work with his phone again. So we had to use a cheap set of speakers that broke the second day we were using them. Our boss does not like "friendly fire" of external speakers as that interferes with his business a couple cubicles away. I fully agree the TV connector is the way to go. On a side note. My aids price of $5000 and I've lost one and the replacement is $2500 for a single unit, ain't happening! Thank you for posting a video on the TV connector.

[@Christophermarley1]

Most frustrating connection with Cable box and surround system

[@healthyhearingloss9953]

Hi Christoper Marley, I am sorry it's been frustrating with connecting with cable box/surround system. I don't have experience with surround sound devices but I will do some research and see what I find...

[@chrisdiegel8916]

So this isn’t Bluetooth?

[@healthyhearingloss9953]

Hi Chris Diegel, The TV Connector has bluetooth technology that streams to bluetooth hearing aids specially the Phonak hearing aids. Does this answer your question, if not please let me know.

[@chrluc]

It's not Bluetooth. As far as I can tell from the research I did, it's closer to the old wireless home phones. I think it uses the same bandwidth as those phones from back in the day. Because of this, in my experience, you don't get quite the same range as you do with Bluetooth. Typically this is not much of an issue because you typically use the streamer while sitting directly in front of the TV.

[@wombat3024]

@@chrluc but bluetooth has a significant delay, leading to a horrible "echo" effect if you can also hear the original sound to a degree. I know this from personal experience!

[@gerrittax5523]

I n nederland