Earing compatible telephone handset receiver

An earring compatible telephone handset receiver (20) having a side sound outlet (22) and a center sound outlet (24) located on the receiver's front surface. A selection switch (38) is used to determine either the side sound outlet (22), the center sound outlet (24), or both of the side and center sound outlets (22 and 24) to be active for transmitting sound. When the side sound outlet (22) is active and aligned with the user's ear canal (202), the receiver (20) is kept away from the user's ear lobe (206) and the attached earring (204) to accommodate uses wearing earrings. When the center sound outlet (24) is active, the receiver (20) can be used in its normal way to accommodate users without earrings.