Disclosed is a system and method for channel decoding speech frames in a receiver capable of multiple (M) codec modes, wherein channel encoded speech frames include an inband bit portion and a speech portion. An inband bit decoder decodes the inband bit portion (700) of a received frame to obtain confidence levels associated with each of the M codec modes. Using these confidence levels, the codec modes are ordered from most to least likely. The speech frame is then decoded by a channel decoder using the most likely codec mode (704). A frame determination check (720) is performed to determine the quality of the decoded speech frame. If the decoded speech frame is determined to be of poor quality, then the channel decoding process is repeated using the next most likely codec mode (736) corresponding to the next highest inband bit decoding confidence level. This process is repeated until a good speech frame is decoded or some exit criteria is reached.