Most Affordable

MDHearing Review

Name: MDHearing
Brand: MD Hearing Aid

Prices, Sound Recordings, Models

Blake Cadwell

Review updated May 28, 2024

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Affordable

Behind the Ear

OTC

Rechargeable

$ 297.00 / pair

Text for Pricing

4.5

5162 Reviews

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Background

MDHearing is a Chicago-based hearing brand with more than one million devices under its belt. In 2023, NFL star Joe Namath became a spokesperson for the brand. MDHearing was founded by an ear, nose, and throat doctor (ENT) who became frustrated when some of his patients could not afford hearing aids. MDHearing's founder connected with a factory that would sell simple hearing aids to him at lower prices, and, in-turn, he sold those devices to his patients and others directly online.

The brand has always stayed within that initial mission. Today MDHearing sells products for less than $300 for a pair. MDHearing devices are very simple (no Bluetooth or advanced algorithms), but they are a good place for many folks to get started.

What Makes MDHearing Special

The most apparent advantage of MDHearing products is the price. The best hearing aids on the market are notoriously expensive, and while the cost is worth it for some, it prices others out of the market. MDHearing keeps their devices very simple (and inexpensive to make) and passes on those savings to the end user.

Another important MDHearing differentiator is the ease of use. MDHearing's most popular products do not use a smartphone app or allow for programming. Users simply need to charge the devices and press the buttons onboard the device for volume changes and program changes. On one hand, this lack of customization is a downside and can prevent ultimate comfort and performance. On the other hand, it keeps things very simple and inexpensive.

Our Take

It's reasonably clear that MDHearing has fewer features and customization options than super-devices like ReSound NEXIA or Signia PureCharge&Go. But given the massive price gap, we think of MDHearing in a completely different category. Compared to other $300 products like Audien or Nano, MDHearing is currently our favorite on the market.

We like that the company has been around for a long time, employs audiologists, and has 1M+ devices in circulation. We've tested MDHearing's customer service and return policies and find them fair and reasonable.

If money is no object, MDHearing is not our top choice on the market, but if you only have a few hundred dollars to spend, this brand belongs on your shortlist.

Pros 👍

Affordable
‍
Easy to set up
‍
Established company‍

Rechargeable

‍

Cons 👎

Entry level sound processing
‍
Some feedback while putting the product on
‍
No personalization to your hearing loss (only preset programs)

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Soundly Scorecard

Hearing Loss Level 🔊

Mild - Moderate

MDHearing offers OTC products appropriate for mild-moderate hearing loss levels
If you have more significant hearing loss you might consider local or Telehealth care. Read more about prescription Vs. OTC hearing aids here

Care Type 🏥

Over-The-Counter

Available for purchase online
Does not require a prescription from a doctor
MDHearing offers limited options for customization

Sound Quality 🔊

Average in Background Noise

MDHearing is less effective than leading prescription devices in background noise (although significantly more affordable)

Comfort 🦻

Somewhat Comfortable For All-Day Wear

Comfortable thin-tube is great for all day wear
We suggest that you change the eartips on this product for additional comfort
MDHearing's in-ear devices are slightly less comfortable due to "occlusion" (boominess of your voice)

Style 💫

Behind The Ear, In The Ear - Non Molded

MDHearing offers both behind-the-ear and in-the-ear devices
Devices are slightly larger than other OTC options
Available in only beige

Battery 🔋

Rechargeable Only

MDHearing has built-in rechargeable batteries that last up to 20 hours on a single charge
MDHearing hearing aids come with a recharge case that carries additional portable charge

Connection 📡

Bluetooth Not Available

MDHearing devices do not allow Bluetooth streaming or app controls

Dexterity Level 🤏

Average

MDHearing's behind-the-ear options are reasonably easy to handle but do require the wearer to place the hearing aid behind their ear and insert the receiver into the ear (consistent across all behind-the-ear styles)
MDHearing devices are rechargeable and do not require battery changes

Waterproof Level 💦

N/A

MDHearing devices are not advertised as waterproof. Avoid moisture if possible

App features 📱

Does Note Have An App

MDHearing devices use onboard buttons to change programs and volume

Pricing and Process

MDHearing devices can be purchased online here. Prices range from $300 - $500 depending on model. Customers can opt to add a repair warranty for $9.99 per month. Products are shipped to your home and very straightforward to set up. No doctors visits or telehealth services are included with MDHearing devices.

How to Choose a Style

MDHearing has a range of models available. We've included a full chart of features below. For most users, we recommend Air or Volt for the most comfort and advanced sound quality. Some customers may prefer NEO or NEO XS for the in-ear form factor. See the product lineup here.

"I have been a satisfied customer since 2015. MD service has been great and timely. I recommend them to all my friends and customers.Thanks for your quality products and service."

— Terry

"Work in progress. still adjusting but making progress."

— Danny

"It' nice to have a reliable hearing aid, I like these and much better than the hearing aids that really aren't hearing aids. I have also bought a pair for $4400.00. These are good without all the bells and whistles that you don't really need."

— Janice

"Very Happy! I heard birds singing for the first time in a long while!"

— Mary

"Good but not strong enough for me."

— Forest

"Honestly, it was also more important to hear and be apart of their conversations than to be concerned with how I looked or if hearing aids would make me look old. I don’t need to wear them all the time. But When I do, I’m not the one left out of or confused by the conversations. And as for how they look-not an issue! Thank you!"

— Sheryl

"So far so good. My elderly Mother balked at the idea of a hearing aid. I bought one of these for her and she eagerly puts it in her ear each morning."

— Bruce

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— Name

Overview
Product Models
MDHearing Unboxing
Overall Thoughts
Products
Final Thoughts

MDHearing is a leading budget brand in the U.S. While the brand flies a bit under the radar, we frequently get questions about MDHearing, so I ordered the top-selling MDHearing products to give them a try. In this review I'll share my experience and thoughts on everything from sound quality to build quality and comfort.

Let's get into it!

MDHearing

December 6, 2023

Written by

Blake Cadwell

Reviewed by

Soundly Staff

Available MDHearing Models

MDhearing currently offers three main products: Neo, Air, and Volt. The most significant difference between the products is their form factor. Neo fits inside the ear, while Volt and Air sit behind the ear with a thin tube that sends sound into the ear canal.

MDHearing nearly always shows significant discounts on their site, but you can expect to pay between $300 and $400 for a pair of devices from the brand. Shoppers can checkout online through a reasonably straightforward process.

Here's a rundown of available products.

	Air	Neo	Volt
Style	Behind The Ear	In The Ear	Behind The Ear
Sound Processing	Advanced	Basic	Most Advanced
Programs	4 Environment Settings	1 Environment Settings	4 Environment Settings
Volume Control	Volume button	Volume button	Volume dial
Battery	Rechargeable	Rechargeable	Rechargeable
Approximate Battery Life	Full charge = 12-16 hours	Full charge = 17 hours	Full charge = 20 hours
Dimensions	1.125” x 0.25” x 0.5”	Diameter 0.5” x Length 0.875”	1.25” x 0.25” x 0.5”
Price Per Pair	$297	$297	$397

MDHearing Unboxing

MDHearing products come in a compact box with a few supplies, a user manual, and a pair of hearing aids inside their charger. I put the devices on the charger for an hour or so before putting the devices in my ears.

Air and Volt

The behind-the-ear MDHearing products offer a volume dial or rocker switch to adjust volume and programs. Both of the behind-the-ear devices offer four pre-set programs. The dial or switch turns up the volume, and a longer press on the button changes the program.

The Quiet program is recommended for watching TV or spending time in your quiet home with low conversation.
The Social program optimizes clarity of voice without significant background noise suppression.
Noisy and restaurant modes both optimize for background noise reduction.

NEO

Neo has a single button onboard. Each click of the control raises the volume by three decibels. Once you reach the top volume, you'll hear a long beep, and then the volume will return to the lowest setting before going up again. Each ear operates independently.

MDHearing does not have a programming app or customization process, so the hearing aids are set to match standard hearing loss configurations and won't be specific to your loss. This is common among sub $500 products on the market, while $1,000-$5,000 products offer apps or doctor support to customize the sound to your loss.

Sound Quality and experience

Wearing MDHearing in a loud background noise environment.

I think of sound quality in a few different categories.

Clarity of Speech

The most important thing any hearing aid should do is clarify speech and enhance my ability to interact with people around me. On this front, MDHearing gets passing marks for the price. The devices are not as effective as custom-programmed hearing aids, but they certainly amplify speech frequencies and manage ambient background noise.

I found that MDHearing did a nice job of clearly amplifying speech in reasonably quiet settings but didn't do as well when I was in a loud restaurant.

Comfort

Another factor is comfort. If devices aren't comfortable, I'm unlikely to wear them and, therefore, less likely to benefit. In my experience, behind- the-ear versions of MDHearing aids are more comfortable for all-day wear since they limit occlusion (boominess of your voice).

Another aspect of comfort is the product's ability to manage feedback and loud sounds. On this front, I'd give passing marks to the Air and Volt models. I did find that Neo was more susceptible to feedback (squealing). Neo also struggled in the face of sudden loud sounds like a dish dropping.

Tip: When you pull Air or Volt out of their charger, I recommend turning the volume down before placing the product in your ears. This will help prevent feedback during the process of putting the devices on.

Overall Thoughts

There are no two ways around it: MDHearing devices are affordable and basic. If I put up a chart comparing MDHearing to my prescription hearing aids, MDHearing would fall behind pretty quickly, but those prescription products are also thousands of dollars for a pair.

If you are looking for a pair of hearing aids with simple features and reasonable performance at a sub-$300 price point, MDHearing is my top choice. If you are open to spending closer to $1,000, I'd recommend Lexie B2 Powered by Bose.

MDHearing offers free product returns for 45 days, like most reputable hearing brands. That allows you to try the product and decide if it suits your needs.

I hope you've found this review helpful. If you have questions or thoughts, you can contact us at hello@soundly.com.

Written by

Blake Cadwell