BTE/CIC auditory device and modular connector system therefor

A method for providing a plurality of earpiece auditory device components, a portion of which may be assembled to form an earpiece auditory device tailored to a user, said method comprising:

• providing a plurality of behind-the-ear components from which a behind-the-ear component operable to facilitate the user's intended use for the earpiece auditory device may be selected, wherein each of said behind-the-ear components comprises a module including processing circuitry in communication with a microphone port located outside the ear canal of the user;
• and
• providing a plurality of connectors from which a connector of sufficient length may be selected to physically couple a selected behind-the-ear components when said selected behind-the-ear component is placed behind the ear of the users to a completely-in-canal component when said completely-in-canal component is placed inside the ear canal of the user, the completely-in-canal component including a speaker electrically connected to the processing circuitry and wherein said connector of sufficient length is shaped to place a portion of said connector within the ear canal of the user when said completely-in-canal component is placed in the ear canal of the user, and wherein said connector of sufficient length includes at least one end operable to detachably physically couple to said selected behind-the-ear component or said completely-in-canal component, and said connector of sufficient length is sufficiently rigid so as to allow said connector of sufficient length to be used to insert and remove the completely-in-canal component from the ear canal of the user.