How To Use CPT Code 92557

CPT 92557 refers to the comprehensive audiometry threshold evaluation and speech recognition procedure. This article will cover the description, procedure, qualifying circumstances, billing guidelines, documentation requirements, historical information, similar codes, and examples of CPT 92557.

1. What is CPT 92557?

CPT 92557 is a medical code used to describe the comprehensive audiometry threshold evaluation and speech recognition procedure. This procedure is performed by healthcare providers to assess a patient’s hearing ability and speech recognition by presenting a series of tones at varying intensities and measuring the patient’s ability to recognize familiar words and repeat them.

2. 92557 CPT code description

The official description of CPT code 92557 is: “Comprehensive audiometry threshold evaluation and speech recognition (92553 and 92556 combined)”.

3. Procedure

The 92557 procedure involves the following steps:

  1. The patient is placed in a soundproof booth with speakers or fitted with headphones.
  2. The provider presents the patient with a series of tones at varying levels of intensity.
  3. A headband is placed on the forehead or against the bone behind the patient’s ears, conducting sound through the bones of the skull, which the patient senses as vibrations through the bones to the inner ear.
  4. The provider identifies the response of the patient to different sounds and establishes the softest level at which the patient can hear.
  5. The provider conducts a speech audiometry test where the patient repeats the words heard while wearing headphones, beginning with sounds of low intensity to determine the speech reception threshold, which is the lowest level of sound easily understood and repeated by the patient.

4. Qualifying circumstances

Patients who are eligible to receive CPT code 92557 services are those experiencing hearing difficulties or speech recognition issues. This may include individuals with a history of hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, or other auditory disorders. The procedure is also appropriate for patients who require a comprehensive evaluation of their hearing and speech recognition abilities for diagnostic or treatment purposes.

5. When to use CPT code 92557

It is appropriate to bill the 92557 CPT code when a healthcare provider performs a comprehensive audiometry threshold evaluation and speech recognition assessment for a patient experiencing hearing difficulties or speech recognition issues. This code should be used for patients who require a detailed evaluation of their hearing and speech recognition abilities for diagnostic or treatment purposes.

6. Documentation requirements

To support a claim for CPT 92557, healthcare providers must document the following information:

  • Patient’s medical history, including any history of hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, or other auditory disorders.
  • Reason for the comprehensive audiometry threshold evaluation and speech recognition assessment.
  • Results of the audiometry threshold evaluation, including the patient’s responses to different sounds and the softest level at which the patient can hear.
  • Results of the speech audiometry test, including the patient’s speech reception threshold and ability to recognize and repeat familiar words.
  • Any recommendations for further evaluation, treatment, or follow-up care based on the assessment results.

7. Billing guidelines

When billing for CPT code 92557, healthcare providers should follow these guidelines:

  • Ensure that the patient meets the qualifying circumstances for the procedure.
  • Document all required information to support the claim, as outlined in the documentation requirements section.
  • Check with the payer for any specific billing rules or requirements related to CPT 92557.
  • If multiple comprehensive audiometry threshold evaluations are performed for a patient, report each evaluation separately and append the appropriate modifier to indicate multiple tests.

8. Historical information

CPT 92557 was added to the Current Procedural Terminology system on January 1, 1990. There have been no updates to the code since its addition.

9. Similar codes to CPT 92557

Five similar codes to CPT 92557 and how they differentiate are:

  • CPT 92553: Pure tone audiometry (threshold); air only – This code is used for air conduction audiometry without bone conduction or speech recognition testing.
  • CPT 92556: Speech audiometry threshold; with speech recognition – This code is used for speech audiometry testing without pure tone audiometry.
  • CPT 92590: Hearing aid evaluation and selection – This code is used for the evaluation and selection of hearing aids, not for comprehensive audiometry threshold evaluation and speech recognition.
  • CPT 0208T: Automated audiometry – This code is used for automated audiometry testing, not for comprehensive audiometry threshold evaluation and speech recognition.
  • CPT 0212T: Automated speech recognition audiometry – This code is used for automated speech recognition audiometry testing, not for comprehensive audiometry threshold evaluation and speech recognition.

10. Examples

Here are 10 detailed examples of CPT code 92557 procedures:

  1. A patient with a history of hearing loss undergoes a comprehensive audiometry threshold evaluation and speech recognition assessment to determine the extent of their hearing impairment and speech recognition abilities.
  2. A patient experiencing tinnitus undergoes CPT 92557 to assess their hearing and speech recognition abilities and determine if there is any underlying hearing loss.
  3. A patient with vertigo undergoes a comprehensive audiometry threshold evaluation and speech recognition assessment to evaluate their hearing and speech recognition abilities and identify any potential auditory issues contributing to their symptoms.
  4. A patient with a family history of hearing loss undergoes CPT 92557 as a preventative measure to assess their hearing and speech recognition abilities and identify any potential issues early on.
  5. A patient who has recently been fitted with a hearing aid undergoes a comprehensive audiometry threshold evaluation and speech recognition assessment to evaluate the effectiveness of the hearing aid and make any necessary adjustments.
  6. A patient with a history of noise-induced hearing loss undergoes CPT 92557 to assess their current hearing and speech recognition abilities and determine if any further intervention is required.
  7. A patient with a history of ear infections undergoes a comprehensive audiometry threshold evaluation and speech recognition assessment to evaluate their hearing and speech recognition abilities and identify any potential issues related to their ear infections.
  8. A patient who has recently undergone ear surgery undergoes CPT 92557 to assess their post-surgical hearing and speech recognition abilities and determine if any further intervention is required.
  9. A patient with a history of auditory processing disorder undergoes a comprehensive audiometry threshold evaluation and speech recognition assessment to evaluate their hearing and speech recognition abilities and determine if any further intervention is required.
  10. A patient with a history of ototoxic medication use undergoes CPT 92557 to assess their hearing and speech recognition abilities and determine if any further intervention is required.

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