A method for reducing a listener's task-irrelevant auditory perception using a hearing instrument or system, such as a hearing aid, comprising at least one input transducer configured to pick up the sound field in which the instrument or system is situated thereby providing an input signal, a signal processor configured to process the input signal, and an output transducer outputting the processed input signal, the method comprising the steps of: providing in the hearing instrument or system a measuring device or system configured for measuring the listener's alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity; providing in the hearing instrument or system a generation device or system configured for generating an alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity boosting signal that, when provided to the listener will increase the listener's ongoing alpha activity; with said measuring device or system, establishing a first measure of the listener's alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity; if the first measured alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity is below a predefined threshold, increasing the listener's ongoing alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity by the provision of said alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity boosting signal to the listener, and establishing a delayed version of said input signal, after a defined time interval establishing a second measure of the listener's alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity; if by the second measure it is determined that the user's alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity is at or above a predefined threshold providing said delayed version of the input signal either with or without further processing to an output transducer in said device, wherein after the defined time interval provided the user's alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity is below the predefined threshold, providing said alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity boosting signal to the listener and after a further instance of the defined time interval if the user's alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity is above the predefined threshold, providing the delayed version of the input signal, if after the further instance of the defined time interval the user's alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity is below the predefined threshold and the time since the first measurement does not exceed a maximum delay time threshold, repeating boost step and the delay step, if the time since the first measurement exceed a maximum delay time threshold providing the delayed version of the input signal to the user via the output transducer. providing in the hearing instrument or system a measuring device or system configured for measuring the listener's alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity; providing in the hearing instrument or system a generation device or system configured for generating an alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity boosting signal that, when provided to the listener will increase the listener's ongoing alpha activity; with said measuring device or system, establishing a first measure of the listener's alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity; if the first measured alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity is below a predefined threshold, increasing the listener's ongoing alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity by the provision of said alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity boosting signal to the listener, and establishing a delayed version of said input signal, after a defined time interval establishing a second measure of the listener's alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity; if by the second measure it is determined that the user's alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity is at or above a predefined threshold providing said delayed version of the input signal either with or without further processing to an output transducer in said device, wherein after the defined time interval provided the user's alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity is below the predefined threshold, providing said alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity boosting signal to the listener and after a further instance of the defined time interval if the user's alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity is above the predefined threshold, providing the delayed version of the input signal, if after the further instance of the defined time interval the user's alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity is below the predefined threshold and the time since the first measurement does not exceed a maximum delay time threshold, repeating boost step and the delay step, if the time since the first measurement exceed a maximum delay time threshold providing the delayed version of the input signal to the user via the output transducer. after a further instance of the defined time interval if the user's alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity is above the predefined threshold, providing the delayed version of the input signal, if after the further instance of the defined time interval the user's alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity is below the predefined threshold and the time since the first measurement does not exceed a maximum delay time threshold, repeating boost step and the delay step, if the time since the first measurement exceed a maximum delay time threshold providing the delayed version of the input signal to the user via the output transducer.