Method of operating a hearing device and hearing device

A hearing device, comprising:

• at least one input transducer for generating an input signal;
• a signal processing unit connected to said input transducer and generating a preliminary output signal from the input signal;
• at least one output transducer for reproducing an output signal;
• said signal processing unit is disposed so as to generate the output signal from the input signal and the preliminary output signal;
• and
• said hearing aid programmed to:
• ascertain an expected direct sound that is expected to be perceived at a hearing system of a user of the hearing device based on the input signal;
• ascertain a propagation delay of the preliminary output signal with respect to the expected direct sound;
• generate a masking signal based on the input signal and/or the preliminary output signal, taking into account the expected direct sound and/or the propagation delay of the preliminary output signal with respect to the expected direct sound;
• and
• generate the output signal based on the preliminary output signal and masking signal.