Hi, we're MDHearing: a Midwestern company with over a decade of experience
Founded on the idea that everyone deserves to hear, we manufacture affordable, high-quality, FDA-registered medical devices that are designed, programmed, and tested by our in-house team of audiologists and hearing professionals.
Our goal is to bring the hearing clinic experience to you—for thousands less than a traditional clinic. From our online hearing test to our video consultations and licensed support professionals, we’re 100% dedicated to making your experience with us a good one.
DESIGNED BY DOCTORS
Our FDA-registered hearing aids are designed to assist 94% of people with hearing loss.
TRUSTED BY THOUSANDS
We’ve helped more than half a million Americans hear better over the last decade.
CLINIC-LEVEL SUPPORT
Our licensed hearing professionals are here to provide one-on-one remote support.
How MDHearing compares to a clinic
For far too long, brick-and-mortar hearing clinics were the only option for Americans to get high-quality hearing aids.
This “old way” of buying hearing aids is frustrating, complex, and shockingly expensive. Not only does it take multiple visits to a hearing center just to get the devices in hand—but you’ll likely have to go back for recurring adjustment and calibration appointments, or to fix any performance issues.
Furthermore, buying from a hearing clinic is simply not possible for customers on a budget. Hearing aids sold at clinics are manufactured by a small group of companies that inflate the price to keep their profits high. Then the retail hearing clinics and offices mark up those inflated prices up even more to account for overhead and other brick-and-mortar expenses.
The reality is that when you go to a hearing clinic, the cost of the hearing aid is a small fraction of what you are paying—and that's not right.
A better way to shop for hearing aids
At MDHearing, we believe that choosing the right hearing aid should be as easy and affordable as possible, which is why we revolutionized the entire process. We’ve made the hearing aid buying process simpler without sacrificing customer service or device quality, and we deliver your hearing aids right to your doorstep.
By removing the middlemen and overhead costs of brick-and-mortar businesses, we’re able to offer high-quality hearing aids at just a fraction of the cost that you would pay at your local hearing clinic.
Plus, we’ve assembled a team of credentialed audiologists and licensed hearing professionals with decades of experience in the field to make sure you get the most out of your hearing.
Everything we do as a company—from designing our products to providing the best care and customer support—benefits from the profound knowledge that our experts have to offer.
Meet our hearing experts
Dr. Sandra Porps is a licensed Audiologist in Illinois and a licensed Audiologist and Hearing Aid Dealer in Michigan. She is certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Dr. Porps received her Doctorate of Audiology (Au.D.) from Central Michigan University and has a wide range of experience in the evaluation and treatment of hearing disorders. She has several publications on topics ranging from basic audiology to cochlear implant outcomes. Along with patient care, Dr. Porps advises on hearing aid technology and trends.
Dr. Cassidy White is a licensed Audiologist and hearing aid dispenser in the state of Arizona. She received her Doctorate of Audiology (Au.D.) from Idaho State University. Dr. White has a diverse experience working with infants up to individuals 100+ years, and a variety of clinics from private practice to Veteran’s Affairs. Dr. White’s greatest interests include hearing aid dispensing, counseling and education, tinnitus management, and improving quality of life through better hearing.
Dr. Dondra Mbachu is a licensed Audiologist and hearing aid dispenser in the state of Texas. She is certified by the American Board of Audiology and received her Doctorate of Audiology (Au.D.) from Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Mbachu has experience working with patient populations from newborns to geriatrics, in settings ranging from neonatal intensive care units to nursing homes. Her areas of expertise include hearing evaluation, patient counseling, hearing health education, hearing aid dispensing, and the treatment of hearing disorders.
Dr. Jennifer Stanton is a licensed Audiologist in the states of Pennsylvania and Delaware. She is board certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Dr. Stanton earned her Doctorate of Audiology from Salus University and has been practicing audiology for over 20 years. She has experience working with pediatrics as well as geriatrics, and has worked in a variety of settings including private practice, hospitals, and nursing homes. Dr. Stanton specializes in evaluating and treating patients with varying degrees of hearing loss using hearing aids and communication strategies.
Katy McNeely is a Board-Certified Hearing Instrument Specialist, licensed in the state of Texas with over 17 years of experience in the industry. Katy prides herself on using best practices and providing counseling based upon a person’s individual needs. Over the years, she has trained others to become licensed and helped improve office performance and customer satisfaction rates.
Taylor Smith is a Board-Certified Hearing Instrument Specialist of over 9 years. He is licensed in several states, including New Mexico and Utah. Taylor’s background in audio engineering drives his passion for all things sound and hearing, but his greatest interest lies in helping others hear better.
Jackie Cooper is a Licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist in the state of Texas. She has been licensed in multiple states since 1995 to fit and dispense hearing aids to the adult population. During her 27 year career in the hearing industry, she has worked in many capacities, from direct patient care to advising, teaching, and training. Jackie's greatest interests lie in improving ease of communication through the use of hearing aids and educating patients on the importance of good hearing care.
Virginia Herington is a Licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist in the states of Kansas and North Carolina. Virginia received her degree from Ozarks Technical Community College and has been practicing for more than 8 years. She has worked directly with customers and their families in various settings, ensuring they understand proper care and use of their hearing aids so that they can best hear the world around them.
Jerry Anderson is a Licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist in the states of Florida and Indiana. Jerry has more than 20 years of experience in hearing health care, as a hearing aid dispenser and owner of multiple hearing aid businesses. His first-hand experience with sudden hearing loss and wearing hearing aids gives him a deep understanding of how hearing loss hinders relationships. As a pastor for many years, Jerry works with compassion and empathy, and finds joy in helping others.
Erin Kampert is a Licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist in the state of Pennsylvania with 10+ years of experience in the field. Erin is passionate about educating and counseling her customers in order to help them find the right solution for their unique hearing loss and lifestyle.
Phill Sturtevant is a Licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist in Mississippi. Originally inspired by his own father’s struggle to get hearing aids, Phill has been practicing for 12 years in a variety of settings, from small companies to large corporations. With a background as a translator in the U.S. Army, Phill communicates with his patients in a caring, compassionate manner and enjoys helping others discover the joys of good hearing health.
Christa Chandler is a Licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist in the state of Mississippi. During her 10+ years in the hearing industry, she has worked in many capacities, including direct patient care, customer service, advising, and training. Christa is enthusiastic about helping patients improve communication through the use of hearing aids.
Yvonne Walsh is a Licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist in the state of California with 9 years of experience in the industry. Yvonne has worked both remotely and in offices, performing hearing tests, fitting patients with hearing aids, and educating patients on proper hearing aid use in order to achieve the best hearing experience for them.
Affordable hearing for more than a decade
MDHearing was founded in 2009 by a board-certified Chicago otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat doctor) who saw too many of his patients go without the hearing aids they needed because the cost was out of reach. Knowing how crucial high-quality hearing is, he set out to manufacture an affordable hearing solution that could help the majority of hearing loss patients.
Over the last decade a lot of things have changed, but MDHearing's mission remains the same: to improve your access to the best hearing technology and the best hearing professionals.
Support from licensed hearing professionals
Our relationship with you doesn't stop when your hearing aids are delivered. An audiologist plays a significant role in your hearing health even when you choose to buy hearing aids remotely. That’s why our dedicated team of U.S.-based audiologists and hearing specialists are here to provide clinic-level care throughout your hearing journey.
With MDHearing, you can get one-on-one support—without the inconvenience and cost of repeated office visits. Get in touch with us over the phone, email, or even video chat.
Better hearing backed by science
What sets MDHearing apart from other affordable hearing aid companies is a commitment to the scientific and medical underpinnings of the industry, driven by our team of audiologists and cutting-edge research.
This commitment dates all the way back to MDHearing's founding, with the 2012 research article "An Electroacoustic Analysis and Satisfaction Study of an Inexpensive Over-the-Counter (OTC) Hearing Aid" by Dr. Seilesh Babu, president of the Michigan Ear Institute. In this study, Dr. Babu demonstrated that MDHearing's PRO device could successfully meet the ANSI S3.22-1996 hearing aid specification standard for a test group of people with mild to moderately-severe hearing loss—despite a cost of less than $200.
Another research study by Dr. Babu, "A Comparison of a Smartphone App-Based Personal Profile versus a Traditional Hearing Test," showed that MDHearing's smart hearing aid could accurately assess users' levels of hearing loss just as well as a traditional air-conduction hearing test performed by an audiologist. On average, the difference between the traditional hearing test thresholds and the personal profile results was within 5 decibels for all subjects with hearing loss.
MDHearing's audiology team continues to work on advancing the science of hearing loss and hearing aids. Below are some of our Head of Audiology's recent publications:
Dr. Sandra Porps, AuD, CCC-A
- Porps, Sandra L., Bennett Danielle M., Gilden, Jan., Ravelo, Kimberly., Buck, Barbara., Reinhart, Paul., Hong Robert S., 'Effects of an evidence-based model for cochlear implant aftercare delivery on clinical efficiency and patient outcomes." Cochlear Implants International, March 2023, DOI: 10.1080/14670100.2023.2188007
- Babu, Seilesh MD. “Practical Otology for the Otolaryngologist.” In: Zappia John, Porps Sandra. “Introduction to Audiology.” 2013
- Wilkerson, Brent., Porps, Sandra., Babu, Seilesh. “The Impact of Multiple Co-morbidities on CI performance in the Elderly.” Podium presentation. “14th International Conference on Cochlear Implants and Other Implantable Technologies.” May 11-14, 2016.
- Wilkerson, Brent Jerome; Porps, Sandra L., Babu, Seilesh C. “The Impact of Comorbidities in the Aging Population on Cochlear Implant Outcomes”. Otology & Neurotology: September 2017-Volume 38-Issue 8 – pe285-e288
- Porps, Sandra L., Wilkerson, Brent J., Babu, Seilesh C., “Cochlear Implants and the Aged Population.”. Poster Presentation. 14th International Conference on Cochlear Implants and Other Implantable Technologies. May 11-14, 2016.
- Porps, Sandra L., Sioshansi, Pedrom., Conway, Robert., Schutt, Christopher., Hong, Robert., Babu, Seilesh., “Outcomes of Cochlear Implantation as a Treatment for Translabrynthine Resection of Acoustic Neuromas,” Podium presentation. CI2021 Cochlear Implants in Children and Adults: "Cochlear Implantation: It takes a village." April 28-May 1, 2021
- Conway, Robert M., Tu, Nathan C., Sioshansi, Pedrom C., Porps, Sandra L., Schutt, Christopher A., Hong, Robert S., Jacob, Jeffrey T., Babu. Seilesh C., “Early Outcomes of Simultaneous Translabyrinthine Resection and Cochlear Implantation." Laryngoscope. 2021 Jul;131(7):E2312-E2317.
- Karl W. Doerfer MD, Christian G. Fritz MD, Sandra L. Porps AuD, Robert S. Hong MD, PhD, Jeffrey T. Jacob MD, Seilesh C. Babu MD, Twelve-Month Outcomes of Simultaneous Translabyrinthine Resection and Cochlear Implantation. 30 January 2023.
https://doi.org/10.1002/ohn.261 - Porps, Sandra L., Babu, Seilesh C., Bennett, Danielle M., Klann, Brandy J., Patrick, Paulette L., Hong, Robert S., Schutt, Christopher A., Cochlear Implants as a Treatment for Single Sided Deafness. Poster presentation. CI2022 DC In-Person meeting: Emerging Issues in Cochlear Implants. May 18-21, 2022 Washington DC.
- Porps, Sandra L., Danielle M., Klann, Brandy J., Gliden, Jan., Ravelo, Kimberly., Hong, Robert S., Implementing an Evidence Based CI Delivery Model in a Private Practice. Poster Presentation. CI2022 DC In-Person meeting: Emerging Issues in Cochlear Implants. May 18-21, 2022 Washington DC.
Meet our leadership team
Doug Breaker serves as CEO of MDHearing. Doug joined MDHearing after successful CEO roles at HomeFinder.com, EarthClassMail.com, and Scripted.com. Doug's decades of experience in software, hardware/software integration, operations, and scaling high-touch customer support teams enables MDHearing to offer customers a unique blend of high-quality, affordable hearing aids, best-in-class support, and intuitive, helpful apps and software. Doug is currently undergoing certification to become a licensed hearing instrument dispenser.
Dr. Sandra Porps is a licensed Audiologist in Illinois and a licensed Audiologist and Hearing Aid Dealer in Michigan. She is certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Dr. Porps received her Doctorate of Audiology (Au.D.) from Central Michigan University and has a wide range of experience in the evaluation and treatment of hearing disorders. She has several publications on topics ranging from basic audiology to cochlear implant outcomes. Along with patient care, Dr. Porps advises on hearing aid technology and trends.
Steven Maguire serves as Chief Technology Officer of MDHearing. Steven has been building software since 2004. For the past decade, his focus has been on leading companies and technology teams toward the successful delivery of healthy and helpful software & hardware products that delight customers. Steven brings a wealth of experience and wisdom from a wide-range of industries, including–but not limited to–computer training, textbook rental, live events, business mail automation, two-sided marketplace, horse supplements, and niche apparel.
Jason McKinney serves as Chief Revenue Officer of MDHearing, where he oversees every touchpoint within each customer's journey to trust MDHearing with their hearing health. During Jason's tenure with the company, MDHearing has brought affordable hearing and best-in-class customer satisfaction to more than half a million Americans. Prior to joining the company, Jason co-founded a frozen dessert franchise and grew the brand to 8 retail locations.
Stephen Page serves as VP of Operations for MDHearing, leading our Customer Care, Audiology, Quality, Logistics, and Operational teams & initiatives. After beginning his career in finance 30+ years ago, he transitioned to leading and transforming operational and go-to-market teams, products and business units into profitable, healthy, growing operations. His experience spans a wide-array of roles across diverse industries, always leaning on a data-driven, customer-first approach that improves customer and company outcomes alike. He’s driven to help customers have a great experience, and to transform the D2C customer experience at MDHearing.
Brian Jahn serves as the VP of Finance and Accounting for MDHearing and is a registered CPA in the state of Illinois. Throughout his career, Brian has served in a leadership capacity in a variety of industries including financial consulting, private equity, real estate, live events, and his latest endeavor at MDHearing. Brian loves the opportunity to analyze businesses from top to bottom to make operational improvements that provide benefits, both financially and in customer satisfaction—all while focusing on the continual drive to provide affordable hearing aids to as many people as possible.
Prior to serving as Chairman of MDHearing, Frank Van Der Vis ran Audionova International, a European network of 1350 hearing aid retail stores, from 2011 to 2016 before selling it to Sonova for $953M in 2016. In addition to acting as MDHearingAid's chairman, Frank actively invests in and advises multiple European software companies. Frank's immense knowledge of the hearing aid industry helps guide MdHearingAid to deliver outsized value to consumers looking for high-quality, affordable hearing aids.