A method of controlling at least one functional element of an ear-level device, the ear-level device of a type comprising a plurality of previously programmed functional elements (45, 46) executed by circuitry on the ear level device, a memory, a microphone (64, 65, 66) and a speaker, each coupled to a processor, the method comprising: establishing communication between the ear-level device and a companion device (11; 13), the companion device including a graphical user interface; the method further characterized by: presenting, through the graphical user interface, a plurality of icons corresponding to the plurality of previously programmed functional elements of the ear-level device; accepting input, via the graphical user interface, of a signal selecting one of the plurality of previously programmed functional elements, wherein the previously programmed functional elements comprise at least one of an on-off switch, a main button, a touchpad and a status indicator; accepting input, via the graphical user interface, of a signal identifying a way of controlling the selected previously programmed functional element of the ear level device; transmitting a control instruction corresponding to the selected functional element, from the companion device to the ear-level device, thereby providing instruction to the ear-level device to operate according to the selected functional element. establishing communication between the ear-level device and a companion device (11; 13), the companion device including a graphical user interface; the method further characterized by: presenting, through the graphical user interface, a plurality of icons corresponding to the plurality of previously programmed functional elements of the ear-level device; accepting input, via the graphical user interface, of a signal selecting one of the plurality of previously programmed functional elements, wherein the previously programmed functional elements comprise at least one of an on-off switch, a main button, a touchpad and a status indicator; accepting input, via the graphical user interface, of a signal identifying a way of controlling the selected previously programmed functional element of the ear level device; transmitting a control instruction corresponding to the selected functional element, from the companion device to the ear-level device, thereby providing instruction to the ear-level device to operate according to the selected functional element. presenting, through the graphical user interface, a plurality of icons corresponding to the plurality of previously programmed functional elements of the ear-level device; accepting input, via the graphical user interface, of a signal selecting one of the plurality of previously programmed functional elements, wherein the previously programmed functional elements comprise at least one of an on-off switch, a main button, a touchpad and a status indicator; accepting input, via the graphical user interface, of a signal identifying a way of controlling the selected previously programmed functional element of the ear level device; transmitting a control instruction corresponding to the selected functional element, from the companion device to the ear-level device, thereby providing instruction to the ear-level device to operate according to the selected functional element.