A method for binaurally coordinated frequency translation for hearing assistance devices, comprising: receiving a first audio input signal at a first hearing assistance device for a wearer; analyzing the first audio input signal, identifying characteristics of the first audio input signal, and calculating a first set of target parameters for frequency lowered auditory cues from the characteristics of the first audio input signal; transmitting the first set of calculated target parameters from the first hearing assistance device to a second hearing assistance device; receiving a second set of calculated target parameters at the first hearing assistance device from the second hearing assistance device, the second set of target parameters having been calculated at the second hearing assistance device by analysing a second audio input signal, identifying characteristics of the second audio input signal, and calculating the second set of target parameters for frequency lowered auditory cues from the characteristics of the second audio input signal; deriving from the first set and the second set of calculated target parameters a third set of target parameters using a programmable criteria at the first hearing assistance device, wherein the programmable criteria includes selecting the most salient spectral cues from both the first and second sets of calculated target parameters for deriving the third set of target parameters; and generating frequency lowered auditory cues from the first audio signal using the derived third set of target parameters, wherein the derived third set of target parameters is used in both the first hearing assistance device and the second hearing assistance device for binaurally coordinated frequency lowering by deriving the third set of target parameters at both the first and second hearing assistance devices or by transmitting the third set of target parameters from the first hearing assistance device to the second hearing assistance device. receiving a first audio input signal at a first hearing assistance device for a wearer; analyzing the first audio input signal, identifying characteristics of the first audio input signal, and calculating a first set of target parameters for frequency lowered auditory cues from the characteristics of the first audio input signal; transmitting the first set of calculated target parameters from the first hearing assistance device to a second hearing assistance device; receiving a second set of calculated target parameters at the first hearing assistance device from the second hearing assistance device, the second set of target parameters having been calculated at the second hearing assistance device by analysing a second audio input signal, identifying characteristics of the second audio input signal, and calculating the second set of target parameters for frequency lowered auditory cues from the characteristics of the second audio input signal; deriving from the first set and the second set of calculated target parameters a third set of target parameters using a programmable criteria at the first hearing assistance device, wherein the programmable criteria includes selecting the most salient spectral cues from both the first and second sets of calculated target parameters for deriving the third set of target parameters; and generating frequency lowered auditory cues from the first audio signal using the derived third set of target parameters, wherein the derived third set of target parameters is used in both the first hearing assistance device and the second hearing assistance device for binaurally coordinated frequency lowering by deriving the third set of target parameters at both the first and second hearing assistance devices or by transmitting the third set of target parameters from the first hearing assistance device to the second hearing assistance device.