A pairing system comprising: an external housing having: a first surface ; and a plurality of compartments (1034A-E) arranged in a first configuration such that each of the plurality of compartments has a unique position within the external housing relative to the first surface; and wherein each of the plurality of compartments is configured to house an external device capable of wirelessly interfacing with a cochlear implant system; an external pairing device comprising: a second surface ; and a plurality of near field communication devices (1066A-E) arranged in a configuration corresponding to the first configuration relative to the second surface such that the first surface of the external housing can be aligned with the second surface of the external pairing device in such a way that each of the plurality of near field communication devices aligns with a corresponding one of the plurality of compartments of the external housing ; and wherein the external pairing device is configured to: provide communication between a programming device and one or more external devices, each contained within a different compartment of the external housing , via one or more corresponding near field communication devices of the external pairing device. an external housing having: a first surface ; and a plurality of compartments (1034A-E) arranged in a first configuration such that each of the plurality of compartments has a unique position within the external housing relative to the first surface; and wherein each of the plurality of compartments is configured to house an external device capable of wirelessly interfacing with a cochlear implant system; a first surface ; and a plurality of compartments (1034A-E) arranged in a first configuration such that each of the plurality of compartments has a unique position within the external housing relative to the first surface; and wherein each of the plurality of compartments is configured to house an external device capable of wirelessly interfacing with a cochlear implant system; each of the plurality of compartments has a unique position within the external housing relative to the first surface; and wherein each of the plurality of compartments is configured to house an external device capable of wirelessly interfacing with a cochlear implant system; an external pairing device comprising: a second surface ; and a plurality of near field communication devices (1066A-E) arranged in a configuration corresponding to the first configuration relative to the second surface such that the first surface of the external housing can be aligned with the second surface of the external pairing device in such a way that each of the plurality of near field communication devices aligns with a corresponding one of the plurality of compartments of the external housing ; and wherein a second surface ; and a plurality of near field communication devices (1066A-E) arranged in a configuration corresponding to the first configuration relative to the second surface such that the first surface of the external housing can be aligned with the second surface of the external pairing device in such a way that each of the plurality of near field communication devices aligns with a corresponding one of the plurality of compartments of the external housing ; and wherein the external pairing device is configured to: provide communication between a programming device and one or more external devices, each contained within a different compartment of the external housing , via one or more corresponding near field communication devices of the external pairing device. <EOS>