The invention relates to a method for distorting the frequency of an audio signal and a hearing apparatus operating according to this method. A method that distorts the frequency of an input signal (Ek) that is present as an audio signal and a related hearing apparatus are provided. Here, the input signal (Ek) is divided into a low-frequency signal component (NF) and a high-frequency signal component (HF). These two signal components (NF, HF) adjoin one another at a cut-off frequency (fg). The high-frequency signal component is frequency-distorted and overlaid with the low-frequency signal component to form an output signal (A). An associated gain factor is modified at least for an edge region (RH, RL), containing the cut-off frequency (fg), of the high-frequency signal component (HF) and/or of the low-frequency signal component (NF), such that a level difference (deltaL) between a signal level (L1) of the low-frequency signal component (NF) and a signal level (L2) of the frequency-distorted high-frequency signal component (HF) is increased.