The hearing aid is integrated in the ear hook and the amplified signals are forwarded to the auditory pathway via an ear mould. The ear mould used for the acoustic component is similar to a conventional hearing aid ear mould and can be exchanged. As EAS audio processors are based on the design of a cochlear implant audio processor, they usually offer the same range of assistive listening devices (ALDs) as a cochlear implant. ALDs allows the sound from mobile phones, TVs or external microphones to be sent to the audio processor directly, rather than being picked up by the audio processor's microphone. The direct transmission improves the sound quality for the user, making it easier to, for example, talk on the phone or stream music. All three major EAS manufacturers offer various ALD options, including direct connectivity to Bluetooth-enabled devices. EAS audio processors are also often compatible with older ALD technology, such as telecoil. See also Cochlear implant Hearing aid Brain implant External links ENT Dept. of the Universitätsklinik Frankfurt References V. Ilberg C., Kiefer J., Tillein J., Pfennigdorff T., Hartmann R., Stürzebecher E., Klinke R. (1999).Electric-acoustic stimulation of the auditory system. ORL 61:334–340. Skarzynski H, Lorens A, Piotrowska A, Anderson I (2006). Partial deafness cochlear implantation provides benefit to a new population of individuals with hearing loss Acta Otolaryngol. 2006, Vol. 126/9: 934–40. Gstoettner W., Helbig S., Maier N., Kiefer J., Radeloff A., Adunka O. (2006). Ipsilateral Electric Acoustic Stimulation of the Auditory System: Results of Long-Term Hearing Preservation. Audiology & Neurotology: 11 (suppl 1): 49–56. Otology