Which Walmart Hearing Aids are Best? Let's Look at Prices, Technology, and Reviews

Which Walmart Hearing Aids are Best? Let's Look at Prices, Technology, and Reviews

If you search for "hearing aids" on Walmart.com, you'll discover a wide range of electronic devices to choose from. Some of these are real, FDA-registered hearing aids, while others are just “sound amplifiers.” But one thing is certain: They're a lot more affordable than the hearing aids you'll find at retail hearing clinics.

With such affordable prices (ranging from $40 to $1,900 a pair), you’re probably wondering if Walmart sells quality devices that can effectively treat your hearing loss. The answer is, yes, they do. Walmart sells some excellent, affordable hearing aids, but be warned: They also sell some low-quality, cheaply made products that you shouldn’t waste your money on.

In this guide, we’ll identify some of the cheap products to avoid, review the most popular Walmart hearing aids, and look at some authentic customer testimonials to help you choose the best hearing aid for your needs.

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Are Walmart Hearing Aids "Real" Hearing Aids?

Many of the hearing aids Walmart sells are legitimate, FDA-registered hearing aids, while others are just inexpensive sound amplifiers. Because Walmart.com offers such a mixed bag of hearing devices, it’s important to understand the difference between low-quality, cheaply-made sound amplifiers and genuine FDA-registered hearing aids when shopping on Walmart's website. 

Fortunately, Walmart labels their devices honestly, so the easiest way to identify a legitimate hearing aid is to see if it’s actually labeled “FDA-registered.” That label tells you that it’s a genuine, FDA-registered hearing aid, and not just a knock-off sound amplifier.

Another way to identify the product is to check the price. If it’s less than $150, you’re probably not dealing with a legitimate hearing aid. Real hearing aids contain an array of electronic elements that simply cannot be sold for such an inexpensive price.

Identifying Cheap Sound Amplifiers on Walmart.com

Here are some of the cheap sound amplifiers listed on Walmart.com. None of these are actual FDA-registered hearing aids. If the listing uses the word “amplifier” to describe the product and it costs under $150, you should probably avoid it:

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Image Source: Walmart.com

Identifying Legitimate FDA-Registered Hearing Aids on Walmart.com

Here are some legitimate FDA-registered hearing aids listed on Walmart.com. These hearing aids offer a quality, affordable treatment solution for budget-conscious hearing loss patients:

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Image Source: Walmart.com

Walmart’s Best Selling Hearing Aids

The best selling, most popular “FDA-registered” hearing aids on Walmart.com are the ones sold by Hearing Assist and MDHearing. You might recognize the Hearing Assist brand from their heartwarming TV commercial, where a father shares how a hearing aid finally enables him to hear his son say “I love you.Likewise, you might recognize MDHearing from our informative blogs and advertisements on the internet.

Let’s look at a detailed comparison between the Hearing Assist and MDHearing models on Walmart.com.

Hearing Assist Rechargeable BTE Hearing Aid on Walmart.com

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Image Source: Walmart.com

Currently priced at $498.88 per pair on Walmart.com, the Hearing Assist Rechargeable BTE Hearing Aid is appropriate for individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss. The design features a single button that not only turns the device on and off, but can also switch through different sound environment settings (outdoor, TV, noisy, and quiet). In addition, it has a volume dial to change the amplification level.

 Here’s what you get with the Hearing Assist Rechargeable BTE:

  • Two FDA-registered BTE hearing aids
  • Approximately 20 hours of operation after a 3.5-hour charge
  • 4 sound environment settings
  • Digital hearing aid technology
  • 43dB amplification
  • Feedback reduction technology to remove whistling sounds

The Hearing Assist Rechargeable BTE Hearing Aid has received a mix of good and bad reviews on Walmart.com, with an average rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars. Some of the most frequent complaints involve feedback and squealing noises, which compelled some customers to return the devices.

Here’s what Walmart customers are saying:

If you go above half volume they feedback like crazy and even at half volume, eyeglasses and hair will cause it to feedback too. Frankly not nearly worth the price tag.” – Raymond, March 2020 (2-star review)

My dad didn’t like them. So we returned them. They would squeal too much for him. I don’t understand why they don’t make something for someone who is hard of hearing. We were constantly telling him to adjust them.” – Janet, April 2020 (1-star review)

Our thoughts on the Hearing Assist Rechargeable BTE Hearing Aid: We suspect this popularity is due to name recognition, given that Hearing Assist aggressively advertises their products on TV. Although the brand may sound familiar, buyers should make their own evaluation when it comes to device quality, and whether or not it fits their hearing loss needs.

The MDHearing AIR on Walmart.com:

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Currently priced at $299.98 per pair on Walmart.com, the MDHearing AIR is an FDA-registered, behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid. Intended for individuals with mild to moderately-severe hearing loss, this high-quality, durable device is designed to help resolve 94 percent of hearing loss conditions.

A convenient button allows you to browse quickly through four environment settings, each of which provides maximum hearing clarity in a variety of situations (quiet, social, noisy, and restaurant). This popular hearing aid also features a volume dial so you can fine-tune the sound amplification to your preferred level.

Here’s what you get with the MDHearing AIR:

  • Two FDA-registered BTE hearing aids
  • Digital hearing aid technology
  • Feedback reduction technology to remove whistling sounds
  • Noise reduction technology
  • Four sound environment settings
  • Crisp, clear TV and phone clarity
  • Excellent phone-based customer support

Design-wise, the MDHearing AIR is comparable to the Hearing Assist Rechargeable BTE above. The main differences are: 

  • Smaller size: The AIR is smaller than the Hearing Assist models.
  • Replaceable batteries: The AIR uses replaceable zinc-air batteries, and it’s not rechargeable. This allows the AIR to be more compact and affordable. Some users say that, while on the go, they prefer the convenience of replacing batteries themselves rather than having to always rely on a charging station. 
  • More-affordable price: The AIR is approximately $100 less expensive than the Hearing Assist Rechargeable described above.
  • Awesome customer support: All MDHearing products come with free lifetime support from our U.S.-based team of hearing aid specialists and audiologists.

The MDHearing AIR has received excellent reviews on Walmart.com, with an average rating of 4.8-stars out of 5-stars. Here’s what Walmart customers are saying:

Hearing aids are a hard thing to love, but for a combination of price and performance, none of the other hearing aids I've tried (and returned) matched this MDHearing – and the customer service was very good, something where A LOT of the other companies are apparently lacking in. I can't tell you how frustrating it is when you need to explain to the customer service people how their hearing aids work – I mean how can you have ASSIST in your name and be completely unable to assist me! The MDHearing people knew their stuff. Five stars. Thanks.” – Hank T., October 2019 (5-star review)

So far, I am pleased with the MDHearings. Never having worn aids before, as the cost was way too high, I don't really have any comparison except to what my husband has had for several years … The MD aids arrived ready to wear. All I needed to do was insert the enclosed batteries. They are small, comfortable, easy to adjust, and seem to work very well. The instruction booklet is very clear and helpful as well… I am very glad I decided to give these a try. I am grateful that at my age I do not need to spend thousands of dollars in order to have improved hearing! One last thing – they arrived well before the promised shipping date!” – Barb, November 2019 (5-star review)

Our thoughts on the MDHearing AIR: This product is $100 less expensive than the Hearing Assist Rechargeable BTE above. It’s also smaller, has replaceable batteries (which some users prefer), and it comes with access to an awesome customer support team. And here’s another significant advantage: Customer reviews for the AIR are a lot more positive than the reviews for the Hearing Assist Rechargeable.

The MDHearing VOLT on Walmart.com

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Currently priced at $299.98 per pair on Walmart.com, the MDHearing VOLT is designed for individuals with mild to moderately-severe hearing loss — and from a hearing quality standpoint, it’s one of the most advanced hearing aids Walmart sells.

In addition to everything you get with the MDHearing AIR (discussed above), the VOLT features these advanced hearing aid technologies:

  • Even greater background noise reduction technology, which makes speech clearer, and listening more comfortable.
  • Two directional microphones that work together to distinguish between sounds you want to hear, and sounds you don’t. Advanced sound monitoring technology allows the VOLT to automatically adjust the directionality of its microphones for the best listening experience, wherever you happen to be. These microphones give you optimum clarity when listening to voices or conversations, even in noisy environments like social gatherings and restaurants.
  • As with the AIR, you can change volume settings and cycle through sound programs with the easy-to-use controls conveniently positioned on the hearing aid. 
  • An extended battery life enables you to enjoy optimum hearing all day long, with 18+ hours of battery life on a single charge (magnetic charging base included).

Here’s what Walmart customers are saying about the MDHearing VOLT:

You can’t go wrong. Great hearing aid, great price, comfortable. Who could ask for anything more! I have worn a one ear hearing aid for 4 years which cost 3 times more than the VOLT. When I decided it was better to have a 2 ear hearing aid friends recommended the VOLT. I’m glad they did I couldn’t be happier.” – Virena, April 2021 (5-star review)

MD Volt Hearing Aids are great. I really like the MD Volt Hearing Aids. My hearing loss is not that great as yet, and I didn't want to spend $5000-$7000 for more expensive aids that weren't really needed. I use the aids mainly for watching TV. I use the lowest of 4 volume settings and the simplest of 4 program settings, so there is still a lot of capacity available if needed.” – Kenneth, February 2021 (5-star review)

The Hearing Assist ReCharge Behind the Ear Bluetooth Hearing Aid on Walmart.com:

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Image Source: Walmart.com

Aside from its longer name, the Hearing Assist ReCharge Behind the Ear Bluetooth Hearing Aid features all of the same tech/rechargeable features as the Hearing Assist Rechargeable BTE discussed above. The primary difference is that this device also connects via Bluetooth to an app on your smartphone. Priced at $599.97 on Walmart.com, it’s designed for patients with mild to moderately-severe hearing loss.

The most exciting feature of this hearing aid is the Hearing Assist app, which includes a “Hearing Check” option. This on-demand feature takes you through an easy-access hearing check and automatically optimizes the hearing aid according to its results.

However, the Hearing Assist App presents two challenges that buyers need to be aware of:

  • This hearing aid is NOT smartphone app independent. You can only adjust volume and other settings via the app. This means that if your smartphone battery dies, you lose control of the hearing aid.
  • This hearing aid has NO personalized settings. Beyond the automatic adjustments based on your hearing check, you can’t manually fine-tune the hearing aid to your level of hearing loss, nor can the Hearing Assist support team remotely fine-tune your hearing aid according to your medical hearing test.

Walmart.com shoppers have given this Hearing Assist product some unsettlingly unfavorable reviews, resulting in an average rating of 3.6 our of 5 stars. Here are some of the problems users are encountering:

I compared these to my Costco basic hearing aids. These have no volume control except for the phone. The sound is irritating and they are at least twice the size of my Costco's, very uncomfortable. Sent them back after a week.” – Albatrossman, April 2020 (1-star review)

This product did not work! Have issues with the App not connecting. My mother had no improvement for face to face conversation. Had zero improvement to hear the TV. This product is not for people that have hearing loss, possibly for someone that just needs to increase volume to amplify the sounds.” – Irene, February 2020 (1-star review)

Our thoughts on the Hearing Assist ReCharge Behind the Ear Bluetooth Hearing Aid: This is an FDA-registered, rechargeable hearing aid at an affordable price. However, shoppers should remember two crucial things: You cannot control the hearing aid independently from your smartphone, and you cannot fine-tune the hearing settings based on your unique hearing loss needs. For some users, having Bluetooth capability isn’t necessary, especially considering the fact that you can’t control this hearing aid without having access to a smartphone device. Finally (and importantly), you might want to consider the numerous critical reviews of this product before making your final selection.

Which Hearing Aid Should You Choose?

At the end of the day, we think your best choice is either the AIR or the VOLT from MDHearing.

In addition to the superb performance, quality, and durability of our devices, another reason we recommend MDHearing products is because of our amazing, phone-based customer support team. MDHearing’s audiologist-trained phone assistants are ready to help you set up your hearing aids quickly and easily, from the comfort of your home or office. We’ll walk you through every step of the process and answer any questions you have about the product. And if you’re new to hearing aids, or need to make a change, our in-house audiologists can look at your hearing test results and recommend the right hearing aid for your level of hearing loss.

Try MDHearing Risk-Free!

We’re proud to sell our MDHearing devices on Walmart.com, and we hope you’ll consider our products while browsing the wide range of selections available on the Walmart website. 

And remember: You don’t have to take our word for it. You can try MDHearing products completely risk-free. If our hearing aids don’t work for you, you can return them within 45 days for a full refund. Whether you buy our products on our MDHearing website or through Walmart.com, you’ll still have our full customer service support, as well as our 100% money-back guarantee.

Interested in starting a risk-free trial with MDHearing?
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