A listening system, comprising • a listening device adapted to provide a frequency dependent gain to compensate for a hearing loss of a user and to be worn at or in an ear of a user, the listening device comprising an output transducer for converting an electric signal to a stimulus perceived by the user as an acoustic signal, and • an alerting device adapted to detect or receive an external alarm signal, wherein • the listening device and the alerting device each comprise at least one communication interface allowing to establish a communication link (WL-3) between them, • and • the listening system is adapted to operate in at least two modes, o a NORMAL mode, when said listening device is in operational use, and o an ALARM mode, when said listening device is NOT in operational use; and wherein said listening system is adapted to issue • specific NORMAL mode signals to the user corresponding to normal acoustic and/or optical alarm signals, when said listening system is in said NORMAL mode, and • specific ALARM mode signals (EAS') to the user corresponding to said external alarm signals, when said listening system is in said ALARM mode, wherein said specific ALARM mode signals (EAS') are adapted to catch the attention of the user considering that the listening device is not in operation, and wherein said listening system is brought a) into said NORMAL mode when the listening device is switched ON, and b) into said ALARM mode when the listening device is switched OFF, and wherein the alerting device is adapted to sense or receive information as to whether or not the listening device is in operational use, and the output transducer comprises a speaker for providing the stimulus as an acoustic signal to the user. • a listening device adapted to provide a frequency dependent gain to compensate for a hearing loss of a user and to be worn at or in an ear of a user, the listening device comprising an output transducer for converting an electric signal to a stimulus perceived by the user as an acoustic signal, and • an alerting device adapted to detect or receive an external alarm signal, • the listening device and the alerting device each comprise at least one communication interface allowing to establish a communication link (WL-3) between them, • and • the listening system is adapted to operate in at least two modes, o a NORMAL mode, when said listening device is in operational use, and o an ALARM mode, when said listening device is NOT in operational use; and wherein said listening system is adapted to issue • specific NORMAL mode signals to the user corresponding to normal acoustic and/or optical alarm signals, when said listening system is in said NORMAL mode, and • specific ALARM mode signals (EAS') to the user corresponding to said external alarm signals, when said listening system is in said ALARM mode, wherein said specific ALARM mode signals (EAS') are adapted to catch the attention of the user considering that the listening device is not in operation, o a NORMAL mode, when said listening device is in operational use, and o an ALARM mode, when said listening device is NOT in operational use; and wherein • specific NORMAL mode signals to the user corresponding to normal acoustic and/or optical alarm signals, when said listening system is in said NORMAL mode, and • specific ALARM mode signals (EAS') to the user corresponding to said external alarm signals, when said listening system is in said ALARM mode, wherein said specific ALARM mode signals (EAS') are adapted to catch the attention of the user considering that the listening device is not in operation, a) into said NORMAL mode when the listening device is switched ON, and b) into said ALARM mode when the listening device is switched OFF, and