A hearing assistance system, comprising: an implantable cochlear stimulator including a battery, an electrode array, a stimulation data receiver apparatus (212, 214), and a stimulation processor operably connected to the stimulation data receiver apparatus and to the electrode array; an external hearing assistance device (100, 100a, 100b) including a battery, and a data communication apparatus (116, 116b, 118, 118b) for wireless transmission; a not head-mounted retransmission apparatus (300, 300b), including a data communication apparatus (304, 308); and sound processor circuitry (106, 310b) for converting electrical signals from a microphone into stimulation data; and wherein the hearing assistance device (100, 100a) comprises the microphone for converting sound pressure waves into electrical signals, and the sound processor circuitry, and the data communication apparatus (116, 118) is configured to wirelessly transmit the stimulation data, and wherein the retransmission apparatus is configured to wirelessly receive the stimulation data from the hearing assistance device and wirelessly transmit the stimulation data to the implantable cochlear stimulator; or the hearing assistance device comprises the microphone for converting sound pressure waves into electrical signals and wherein the data communication apparatus (116b, 118b) of the hearing assistance device is configured to wirelessly transmit the electrical signals, and wherein the retransmission apparatus comprises sound processor circuitry and is configured to wirelessly receive electrical signals from the hearing assistance device and to wirelessly transmit the stimulation data to the implantable cochlear stimulator. an implantable cochlear stimulator including a battery, an electrode array, a stimulation data receiver apparatus (212, 214), and a stimulation processor operably connected to the stimulation data receiver apparatus and to the electrode array; an external hearing assistance device (100, 100a, 100b) including a battery, and a data communication apparatus (116, 116b, 118, 118b) for wireless transmission; a not head-mounted retransmission apparatus (300, 300b), including a data communication apparatus (304, 308); and sound processor circuitry (106, 310b) for converting electrical signals from a microphone into stimulation data; and wherein the hearing assistance device (100, 100a) comprises the microphone for converting sound pressure waves into electrical signals, and the sound processor circuitry, and the data communication apparatus (116, 118) is configured to wirelessly transmit the stimulation data, and wherein the retransmission apparatus is configured to wirelessly receive the stimulation data from the hearing assistance device and wirelessly transmit the stimulation data to the implantable cochlear stimulator; or the hearing assistance device comprises the microphone for converting sound pressure waves into electrical signals and wherein the data communication apparatus (116b, 118b) of the hearing assistance device is configured to wirelessly transmit the electrical signals, and wherein the retransmission apparatus comprises sound processor circuitry and is configured to wirelessly receive electrical signals from the hearing assistance device and to wirelessly transmit the stimulation data to the implantable cochlear stimulator. the hearing assistance device (100, 100a) comprises the microphone for converting sound pressure waves into electrical signals, and the sound processor circuitry, and the data communication apparatus (116, 118) is configured to wirelessly transmit the stimulation data, and wherein the retransmission apparatus is configured to wirelessly receive the stimulation data from the hearing assistance device and wirelessly transmit the stimulation data to the implantable cochlear stimulator; or the hearing assistance device comprises the microphone for converting sound pressure waves into electrical signals and wherein the data communication apparatus (116b, 118b) of the hearing assistance device is configured to wirelessly transmit the electrical signals, and wherein the retransmission apparatus comprises sound processor circuitry and is configured to wirelessly receive electrical signals from the hearing assistance device and to wirelessly transmit the stimulation data to the implantable cochlear stimulator.