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.
Our Story
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.
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.
Traditional brick-and-mortar hearing clinics were the only option for Americans to get high-quality hearing aids—which was frustrating, complex, and shockingly expensive. There’s a markup from the manufacturers to the clinics, and then another markup from the clinic to the customer. Buying hearing aids this way also requires multiple visits just to get the devices in hand, and additional appointments for fittings and maintenance. The reality is, buying from a hearing clinic is simply not possible for customers on a budget.
Knowing how crucial high-quality hearing is, our founder set out to manufacture an affordable hearing solution that could help the majority of hearing loss patients. By removing the middlemen and overhead costs of brick-and-mortar businesses, MDHearing is able to offer high-quality hearing aids with the same level of support offered by hearing clinics—at just a fraction of the cost.
Meet our hearing experts
Our team of credentialed audiologists and licensed hearing professionals have decades of experience in the hearing industry. Everything we do—from designing our products to providing the best care and customer support—benefits from the profound knowledge that our experts have to offer.
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. Chargo is a licensed Audiologist in the states of Utah, Texas, and Arizona. He received his Doctorate of Audiology (Au.D.) from University of Utah in 2018, and worked for over five years at an ear, nose, and throat clinic. He specializes in treating hearing loss and tinnitus in adults through the use of hearing aids, fitting and servicing thousands of hearing aids during his career. Dr. Chargo is an excellent problem solver and communicator, which enables him to assist clients in adapting to hearing loss and the use of hearing aids.
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. Susan Phillips is a licensed Audiologist and Hearing Instrument Dispenser in the state of North Carolina. She received her Master’s in Audiology from the University of Maryland, is board-certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and is a member of the American Academy of Audiology. She has spent most of her 30 years in the field working in hearing aid manufacturing and private practice. Susan prides herself in being able to troubleshoot advanced issues related to hearing aids. She enjoys educating patients on the importance of hearing healthcare and quality of life.
Avona Barrett is a Board-Certified Hearing Instrument Specialist of 5+ years in the state of Florida. She has a degree in healthcare management and extensive work experience in the healthcare industry. Avona is driven by her interests in patient care, diagnostic testing, and hearing assistive technology. She enjoys the opportunity to serve the community and improve quality of life via better hearing.
Jeremy Weigandt is a Board-Certified Hearing Instrument Specialist in the state of Michigan with 14 years of experience in the hearing industry in multiple states. Jeremy has worked in a variety of settings from private practice to nursing facilities. His experience includes direct patient care, patient counseling, telehealth customer service, and hearing aid dispensing. Jeremy is dedicated to providing greater access to hearing care.
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.
Sarah Artis is a Board-Certified Hearing Instrument Specialist of 4 years in the state of Florida. She has performed hearing tests, consultations, fittings, and follow-up visits both in clinics and in various retirement, independent, and assisted living communities. Sarah is passionate about hearing healthcare and finds joy in helping others hear their absolute best.
Sarah Jacobs is a Board-Certified Hearing Instrument Specialist in the state of Florida. Licensed since 2020, Sarah has worked in both clinic settings and home care visits. Her experience includes evaluating hearing, fitting and dispensing hearing aids, and counseling patients for success. Sarah is passionate about patient care and serving those with hearing loss to improve their quality of life.
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.
Alison Meara is a licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist in the state of Colorado. After obtaining a degree in Hearing Science from the University of Colorado Boulder, Alison started in the hearing industry in 2011 and received her license in 2015. She formerly owned a private practice and worked extensively with brand-name hearing devices. Alison has an inherent passion for helping people and found that her expertise could be better utilized by providing more people with affordable, quality hearing devices with MDHearing.
Alyssa Fralick is a Licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist in the states of Michigan and Texas. Licensed since 2019, Alyssa formerly honed her skills in award-winning hearing clinics and now extends her compassionate counseling and support to a wider audience through her role with MDHearing. With a passion for enhancing her patients' hearing experience, Alyssa delivers personalized guidance, ensuring each individual receives tailored solutions that bring joy and fulfillment to their lives.
Becky Klosowski is a Licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist in the state of Texas with a passion for increasing accessibility and affordability in hearing care. During her 18+ year career, she has worked in many capacities, from telehearing to small family-owned businesses to big box stores and large corporations, gaining insight into the effects of hearing loss and focusing on bringing ethical and compassionate care to every encounter. As a former musician, she is dedicated to providing quality sound reproduction and educating people on the importance of ear training in the aural rehabilitation process.
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.
Christina Hurt was licensed in 2008 as a Hearing Instrument Specialist in the state of Ohio. She has worked in many facets of the hearing aid industry including family-owned practice, national chains, and a big box setting. This experience sparked Christina’s passion for helping people understand the stress of hearing loss and how it affects the entire family. Christina has made appearances on local TV stations and has been a speaker for the International Hearing Society, bringing awareness to hearing loss and hearing aids. She has also published articles in “The Hearing Professional” and “Soundboard Magazine,” and she’s currently putting the finishing touches on her advocacy book to help consumers better understand hearing loss.
Derrick Hepworth is a Licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist in the state of Utah since 2017. With a background of studies in Deaf culture, American Sign Language Interpreting, and experience in audio engineering, Derrick is dedicated to facilitating meaningful communication for others. His career spans roles in hearing aid clinics, diagnostic testing for Ear, Nose, and Throat Clinics, and assisting people nationwide through telehealth.
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.
Gina Brummett is a Licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist in the state of Ohio. Licensed since 2009, her experience in the hearing industry has spanned from owning and operating private practices, developing new practices for organizations, and working with hearing aid manufacturers. Gina has been a Certified Health Coach for over two decades and is passionate about helping others achieve better hearing and overall health. She is also a Certified Hearing Occupational Conservationist, working with large corporations to ensure they meet proper OSHA standards for their employees. Gina is zealous to help patients with hearing aid counseling, personalized fittings, product support, and education, hoping to make a difference in every life that she touches.
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.
Jason Cooper has been a licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist since 2002 in the state of Indiana. He has worked in a number of practice settings, achieving the title of Master Practitioner, and was awarded Leadership in Ethics. He has also had the opportunity to train other Hearing Instrument Specialists to help patients improve their quality of life through better hearing. Jason is motivated by his care and concern for those who need help reconnecting with loved ones, using his experience to enhance each individual’s hearing health.
Javi Hopper is a Licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist in the state of Florida. During his 6 years working both in office and online, Javi has received numerous awards within the hearing industry. He’s found success with telehealth by helping patients with their hearing needs remotely and is proud to be working with MDHearing to help customers nationwide with their hearing.
Jeff Feltes is a Licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist in the state of Colorado. His 15 year career has spanned various settings, from private care to 'big box' locations, offering him a comprehensive understanding of the diverse needs of individuals with hearing challenges. Jeff has found immense fulfillment in helping individuals regain their hearing, enabling them to reconnect with the world. Beyond this, he has taken on the role of a mentor, guiding and training aspiring hearing aid dispensers in the knowledge and skills necessary for licensure. Jeff's is committed to making a difference, one ear at a time.
Kathy Bonny-Redding is a Licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist in the state of Florida. She started in the hearing industry in 2010 and received her license in 2016. Kathy has worked in many capacities, serving as a customer care representative, patient care coordinator, audiology assistant, and a hearing instrument specialist in big box stores. She takes a patient-oriented approach to hearing healthcare, striving to provide exceptional, compassionate care for every patient and their unique hearing loss. She loves helping people reconnect with their loved ones.
Kevin May is a Licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist of 2 years in the state of Mississippi, with 20+ years of experience in the medical field. Kevin enjoys all aspects of his career, but he is most passionate about working with senior adults, helping them hear better and enjoy time with their families. Kevin is always willing to go the extra mile for his patients.
Lindsey Seufert is a licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist in the state of Florida. Licensed since 2016, Lindsey was formally trained and honed her skills in award-winning hearing clinics. She now leverages her expertise to help people hear better by reaching a wider audience in her role at MDHearing. Lindsey is passionate about hearing health care and strives to enhance her patients lives by helping them with their hearing needs.
Matthew Burden has been a Licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist in the state of Ohio since 2012. Specializing in private practice, Matthew has demonstrated a passion for improving the lives of others by enhancing their hearing abilities. With a heart for serving seniors, he finds profound fulfillment in his work, knowing that hearing can make a significant difference in his clients’ daily lives.
Nicole Rowell has been a Licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist in the state of California since 2012, developing and coordinating care pathways for the hearing impaired. Her experience working with a variety of hearing aid manufacturers makes her well-versed in the different types of hearing equipment and technology.
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.
Rochell Brown is a Licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist in the state of Missouri. She was formally trained and worked in an award-winning clinic, and has discovered a new joy of helping many more customers online with MDHearing. Rochell has a passion for helping customers with hearing aid counseling, personalized fittings, product support, and education.
Tom Marino has been a Licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist in the state of Texas since 2010. He previously practiced in multiple different clinic settings providing patient care, dispensing hearing aids, and educating patients. Tom is passionate about educating his patients on hearing health care and helping them to reconnect with their loved ones.
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 and presentations:
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.
- Porps, Sandra., Cochlear Implant Research at Michigan Ear Institute. Podium presentation. Michigan Ear Institute Spring Audiology Conference. June 3, 2023.
- Porps, Sandra., Industry Satellite Symposium: Cochlear Americas "Patient Centered Approaches to Access and Care." American Cochlear Implant Alliance: CI 2023 Dallas Cochlear Implants in Children and Adults. June 7-10, 2023.
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.