Implementing MSTB-3 Recommendations for SSD Patient Testing: Challenges and Obstacles in Clinical Practice

We have been evaluating SSD patients for decades, continuing to modify our protocol as issues such as insurance reimbursement, isolating the normal hearing ear, use of a CROS aid, and whether or not to initiate a hearing aid trial arose. Having a standardized SSD protocol across CI centers has allowed us to address these issues far more efficiently than in the past. Furthermore, we have found that employing the MSTB-3 SSD has provided us with a protocol that allows us to present data to insurance companies in a more meaningful format which, we are confident, will reduce both denials and approval times.