A hearing aid with a housing holding a microphone, a battery, a programmable signal processing device capable of delivering an output signal is provided whereby the output signal drives an output transducer of the hearing aid to serve a stimulus on the hearing aid user perceivable as sound. The hearing aid housing further holds a socket adapted for receiving a programming connection in order to connect the programmable signal processing device to an external programming device, and a switch adapted to be operated by the hearing aid user, and a cover arranged above the socket and switch and pivotally linked to the hearing aid. Preferably an intermediate link is provided and adapted to interlink the hearing aid with the cover.