a method improves a picked - up signal in a hearing system . the hearing system has at least one hearing device , particularly a hearing aid . the hearing aid device has an associated first directional microphone that has an adjustable first directional characteristic with a preferential direction . the first directional microphone converts sound into a first signal that is adopted in the picked - up signal . a speech activity of a user of the hearing system is monitored , and recognition of a speech activity of the user prompts the preferential direction of the first directional characteristic to be adjusted in comparison with a frontal direction of the user such that the sound sensitivity of the first directional microphone undergoes attenuation in the frontal direction .