What Sets MDHearing Apart

Many hearing aid manufacturers we’ve reviewed, such as Miracle-Ear, sell their devices through retail clinics and doctor’s offices. That third-party business model inherently drives up the cost of devices. There are strong benefits to getting your hearing aids from a hearing care professional, but cutting out the middleman can be beneficial for people who are new to hearing aids. If your hearing loss is mild to moderate, MDHearing may be a great choice for you.

MDHearing removes the cost barrier by making their devices affordable for most budgets. Because MDHearing partners with their own hearing experts and you’re able to take a hearing test and purchase your products online, you eliminate the cost and inconvenience of visiting a hearing clinic.

The average cost of a pair of hearing aids ranges from $2,000 to $8,000, depending on the features they offer. Since insurance, including most Medicare plans, don’t cover the full cost of hearing aids, that may be prohibitive for many older adults. In addition to a low cost, MDHearing also offers affordable monthly payment plans for people on a tight budget. If you’re on a budget or you have a fixed income, we recommend visiting our guide to free and discounted hearing aids to learn how you can save.

MDHearing also offers noninvasive hearing tests online, which means customers can receive guidance from the comfort of their own homes. We found the test simple, since it offered clear instructions and took only a few minutes.

We took MDHearing's online hearing test, which provided clear and simple results.

MDHearing’s comfortable, easy-to-fit earpieces do not require custom fittings. To ensure that the devices are fitted to your ears and lifestyle, the company offers a 45-day in-home trial period, which means you can test them in your daily routine before you make the purchase.

MDHearing Pricing and Products

MDHearing’s product lineup includes two BTE hearing aid styles and two ITE models, with prices ranging from $297 to $397 per pair thanks to the company’s ongoing sales. All four styles are FDA-registered and rechargeable.

Keep in mind that MDHearing’s devices are only suitable for those with mild to moderate hearing loss. If you have severe hearing loss, are worried that your hearing loss is tied to an underlying issue, or want to know the root cause of your hearing loss, we’d highly recommend visiting an audiologist or ENT physician, as an online test can’t provide that level of detail.

MDHearing AIR: Most Affordable Behind-the-Ear Design

MDHearing AIR pair

The AIR is a high-quality rechargeable hearing aid for a fraction of the price. It aims to remove the affordability barrier that keeps many older adults from pursuing digital hearing aid devices. The AIR is one of MDHearing’s more basic models. Unlike the more expensive MDHearing VOLT, the AIR has less advanced noise-reduction capabilities. It also lacks dual directional microphones. VOLT holds a charge for around 20 hours, compared to 16 hours for the AIR.

Since AIR is rechargeable, you won’t have to struggle with changing batteries. At $297 per pair, this model is affordable for most budgets.

The AIR model uses the classic BTE design and is equipped with features such as noise cancellation to limit feedback from other frequencies and to perform well in most noise levels. That means your hearing aids will work seamlessly in all kinds of environments, whether you’re walking along a busy street, having dinner at a noisy restaurant, or spending time at home with family.

Expert Insights

From Audiologist Dr. Ruth Reisman,

Patients may still struggle in the most challenging settings with MDHearing. Noise and voices are amplified to the same degree, so they may have challenges following the conversation.

MDHearing NEO: Discreet In-the-Ear Design

MDHearing NEO

The NEO, priced at $297 per pair, comes in an ITE design. It’s equipped with noise reduction and feedback cancellation. Unlike the higher-priced MDHearing NEO XS, it offers only one sound environment setting instead of four. Even so, we experienced decent sound quality throughout a wide range of sound environments, from watching TV at home to dining in a noisy restaurant.

This model is a great choice for people who want a discreet, nearly invisible hearing aid.

MDHearing NEO XS: MDHearing’s Smallest Hearing Aid Yet

MDHearing, one of our favorite OTC brands, is a runner-up on our list of the best hearing aids for tinnitus.

MDHearing recently released the NEO XS, the company’s smallest model to date. Priced at $397 per pair, the NEO XS is $100 more than the original NEO. That $100 will get you upgraded noise reduction and an even smaller design for comfort. The ITE model builds on its predecessor to offer even more discreet hearing coverage. It’s perfect for people who have smaller ears, since larger ITE models can be uncomfortable for people with small ear canals.

Expert Insights

From Audiologist Dr. Ruth Reisman,

Patients appreciate the in-the-ear style of the NEO XS device. The flexibility with programs is helpful, as well, but some patients have complained that the volume is overwhelming even at the lowest setting.

One of our tech experts tried the NEO XS at home. Despite having tinnitus and mild hearing loss in one ear, it was her first time trying hearing aids of any kind! When she placed the devices in her ears, she experienced slight whistling, which dissipated quickly. She found the volume and program controls easy to use, since the number of beeps indicated which program she was in.

• Quiet: one beep
• Social: two beeps
• Noisy: three beeps
• Restaurant: four beeps

She had some trouble with fit and handling the varying sizes of domes that come with NEO XS devices. She was able to wear them comfortably, but the hearing aids were more visible than she expected.

MDHearing VOLT: Behind-the-Ear Design With Advanced Noise Reduction and Feedback Cancellation

Testing out MDHearing s VOLT devices, which are small and sit behind the ear.

Priced at $397 per pair, the VOLT is MDHearing’s most popular model. This model comes with a charger for easy overnight docking and batteries that last all day in between charges.

When we tried the VOLT, the rechargeable devices took three hours to charge and lasted around 20 hours, just as the company advertises. The VOLT features a comfortable fit and minimalist, BTE design. It’s also equipped with features such as adaptive noise reduction and feedback cancellation, along with four audio settings to adapt to your individual hearing needs. The features work together to reduce surrounding sounds so you can focus on what you’re interested in hearing, such as conversations or lectures. They also reduce feedback (ringing and buzzing) caused by interaction with other devices, such as phones.

When we tested the MDHearing VOLT, we found the sound quality clear and crisp with minimal feedback noise. We liked how comfortable they were in our ears. Even though the hearing aids are visible from the back, we found them nearly indiscernible from the front and sides of our head.

Additional Accessories and Add-Ons

You may wish to invest in add-on accessories that help maintain your devices. Proper cleaning and maintenance are important to prolonging the life of your hearing aids. Accessories are still available for models that are no longer sold. If you’re a current MDHearing user, you may be able to find supplies for your older hearing aids.

Every MDHearing hearing aid model has a variety of accessories that are specific to it. Here is a snapshot of some available add-ons:

How to Buy a Hearing Aid With MDHearing

If you have never been fitted for a hearing aid, the process of adding another doctor and appointment to your list can be overwhelming. From an easy, noninvasive online hearing test to receiving your device in the mail for a risk-free trial period, MDHearing does a good job of keeping it simple.

• Get a hearing test: Until you receive the results of your hearing test, any potential problems are just a guess, so taking a test is the first step. MDHearing offers a quick and effective diagnostic test that anyone can do online — and it takes just eight minutes, a computer or smartphone, and a pair of headphones.
• Understanding your audiogram: An audiogram is a fancy term for the results of your hearing test. With MDHearing, you’ll get a clear diagram that illustrates your results so you can easily tell if your hearing is within normal ranges. If you live with some degree of hearing loss, there are more detailed explanations available. The information is very well laid out, so you can see what you need at a glance.
• Shopping for an MDHearing device: MDHearing offers four models that can be purchased online. All you need to do is take the results of your hearing test and MDHearing’s recommendations, and make your purchase.

How MDHearing Measures Up to the Competition

Conclusion

MDHearing checks all the boxes for affordable hearing aids backed by proven technology, customer service, and the expertise of audiologists. People looking for an alternative to expensive hearing aids will be pleased with the devices and services offered by MDHearing.

They offer four models of FDA-registered hearing aids for people who are experiencing mild to moderate hearing loss. Starting at just $297 per pair (after promotions), pricing for MDHearing is more affordable than traditional hearing aid devices and often beats competitors in the direct-to-consumer market.

After taking the online hearing test and speaking with their knowledgeable instrument specialists for our MDHearing review, we were impressed with the level of service MDHearing offers. Although we wish the company offered more customizable options, they make up for the lack of customization with great prices and attentive service paired with a money-back guarantee. MDHearing continues to be a strong choice for hearing aid solutions.