An integrated headpiece for a cochlear implant system, comprising: a microphone (108, 410) for outputting an audio signal; a circuit board carrying signal processing electronics (106, 408) for processing the audio signal; and a transmitter comprising an induction coil (120, 402, 504) for transmitting a processed audio signal received from the electronics to an implanted receiver by generating a telemetry magnetic field, the implanted receiver sending the processed audio signal to an implanted processor, the implanted processor selectively energizing an electrode array having multiple stimulating electrodes; the integrated headpiece being configured as a stand alone, head-mounted external component which provides external functionality for operation of the cochlear implant system; a retention magnet configured to produce a retention magnetic field for securing the integrated headpiece to a head of the patient; characterised by: a telemetry flux guide positioned between the induction coil and the circuit board, the telemetry flux guide being configured to direct magnetic flux of the telemetry magnetic field away from the circuit board; and a retention flux guide positioned between the retention magnet and the circuit board, and between the retention magnet and the telemetry flux guide, the retention flux guide being configured to direct magnetic flux of the retention magnetic field away from the circuit board and away from the telemetry flux guide; wherein all of the microphone, circuit board, retention magnet, telemetry flux guide, retention flux guide and transmitter are disposed in a common rigid housing (414, 502, 602, 802/804) of the integrated headpiece. a microphone (108, 410) for outputting an audio signal; a circuit board carrying signal processing electronics (106, 408) for processing the audio signal; and a transmitter comprising an induction coil (120, 402, 504) for transmitting a processed audio signal received from the electronics to an implanted receiver by generating a telemetry magnetic field, the implanted receiver sending the processed audio signal to an implanted processor, the implanted processor selectively energizing an electrode array having multiple stimulating electrodes; the integrated headpiece being configured as a stand alone, head-mounted external component which provides external functionality for operation of the cochlear implant system; a retention magnet configured to produce a retention magnetic field for securing the integrated headpiece to a head of the patient; a telemetry flux guide positioned between the induction coil and the circuit board, the telemetry flux guide being configured to direct magnetic flux of the telemetry magnetic field away from the circuit board; and a retention flux guide positioned between the retention magnet and the circuit board, and between the retention magnet and the telemetry flux guide, the retention flux guide being configured to direct magnetic flux of the retention magnetic field away from the circuit board and away from the telemetry flux guide; wherein all of the microphone, circuit board, retention magnet, telemetry flux guide, retention flux guide and transmitter are disposed in a common rigid housing (414, 502, 602, 802/804) of the integrated headpiece. a retention flux guide positioned between the retention magnet and the circuit board, and between the retention magnet and the telemetry flux guide, the retention flux guide being configured to direct magnetic flux of the retention magnetic field away from the circuit board and away from the telemetry flux guide; wherein all of the microphone, circuit board, retention magnet, telemetry flux guide, retention flux guide and transmitter are disposed in a common rigid housing (414, 502, 602, 802/804) of the integrated headpiece.