An exemplary authorization system is located remotely from a hearing device that is configured to facilitate hearing by a recipient. The authorization system comprises a memory storing instructions and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to execute the instructions to: receive, from a client in communication with the hearing device, a request for the hearing device to perform an operation; determine, based on device characteristic data that is representative of one or more characteristics specific to the hearing device, that the operation is valid for the hearing device; and transmit, in response to determining that the operation is valid for the hearing device, an authorization message to the hearing device, the authorization message authorizing the hearing device to perform the operation requested by the client.