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Official Description

Pure tone audiometry (threshold); air only

© Copyright 2026 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

The CPT® Code 92552 refers to the procedure known as pure tone audiometry (threshold) using air conduction only. This diagnostic test is essential for assessing an individual's hearing ability by determining the faintest tones that can be detected across a range of frequencies, from low to high pitches. During the test, specialized earphones are utilized to deliver sound directly to each ear, allowing for a precise evaluation of auditory sensitivity. The procedure is designed to identify hearing thresholds, which are the minimum sound levels that a person can perceive. The results of the audiometric testing are recorded on an audiogram, a graphical representation that illustrates the patient's hearing acuity at various frequencies for both ears. This method is distinct from bone conduction audiometry, which involves the use of a bone oscillator to transmit sound through the skull. After the test, a written interpretation of the findings is provided, summarizing the patient's hearing capabilities and any potential hearing loss detected during the assessment.

© Copyright 2026 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

1. Indications

The pure tone audiometry (threshold) procedure, coded as CPT® 92552, is indicated for the evaluation of hearing loss and is commonly performed in various clinical settings. The following conditions may warrant this test:

  • Hearing Loss Patients presenting with symptoms of hearing impairment, which may include difficulty understanding speech, asking for repetition, or turning up the volume on electronic devices.
  • Screening for Auditory Disorders Individuals who require screening for potential auditory disorders, particularly in populations at risk, such as the elderly or those with a history of noise exposure.
  • Pre-Employment or Occupational Testing Assessments required for employment in environments where hearing acuity is critical, such as in construction or manufacturing settings.
  • Monitoring Hearing Changes Patients with known hearing conditions who need regular monitoring to track changes in hearing ability over time.

2. Procedure

The procedure for pure tone audiometry (threshold) using air conduction involves several key steps to ensure accurate assessment of hearing capabilities.

  • Step 1: Preparation The patient is seated in a soundproof booth to minimize external noise interference. Earphones are fitted securely over the ears to ensure proper sound delivery during the test.
  • Step 2: Calibration The audiometer is calibrated to ensure that the sound levels presented are accurate. This step is crucial for obtaining reliable threshold measurements.
  • Step 3: Testing Procedure The audiologist presents a series of pure tones at varying frequencies, starting from low to high pitches. The patient is instructed to press a button each time they hear a sound. This response indicates the faintest tone that can be detected at each frequency.
  • Step 4: Ear-Specific Testing Each ear is tested separately to determine individual hearing thresholds. The audiologist may ask the patient to indicate whether the sound was heard in the right or left ear, ensuring comprehensive assessment.
  • Step 5: Data Recording The results of the test are recorded on an audiogram, which visually represents the hearing thresholds for each ear across the tested frequencies.
  • Step 6: Interpretation After completing the test, the audiologist provides a written interpretation of the findings, summarizing the patient's hearing acuity and any identified hearing loss.

3. Post-Procedure

Following the pure tone audiometry (threshold) procedure, patients may receive guidance on the next steps based on their test results. If hearing loss is detected, further evaluation or intervention may be recommended, which could include additional audiological assessments, hearing aids, or referrals to specialists. Patients are typically advised to discuss their results with their healthcare provider to understand the implications and potential treatment options. Additionally, it is important for patients to monitor their hearing and report any changes or concerns to their healthcare provider promptly.

Short Descr PURE TONE AUDIOMETRY AIR
Medium Descr PURE TONE AUDIOMETRY AIR ONLY
Long Descr Pure tone audiometry (threshold); air only
Status Code Active Code
Global Days XXX - Global Concept Does Not Apply
PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) 3 - Technical Component Only Code
Multiple Procedures (51) 0 - No payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply.
Bilateral Surgery (50) 2 - 150% payment adjustment does NOT apply.
Physician Supervisions 02 - Procedure must be performed under the direct supervision of a physician.
Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) 0 - Payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure...
Co-Surgeons (62) 0 - Co-surgeons not permitted for this procedure.
Team Surgery (66) 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure.
Diagnostic Imaging Family 99 - Concept Does Not Apply
APC Status Indicator STV-Packaged Codes
Type of Service (TOS) K - Hearing Items and Services
Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) T2D - Other tests - other
MUE 1
CCS Clinical Classification 220 - Ophthalmologic and otologic diagnosis and treatment
AB Audiology service furnished personally by an audiologist without a physician/npp order for non-acute hearing assessment unrelated to disequilibrium, or hearing aids, or examinations for the purpose of prescribing, fitting, or changing hearing aids; service may be performed once every 12 months, per beneficiary
59 Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25.
52 Reduced services: under certain circumstances a service or procedure is partially reduced or eliminated at the discretion of the physician or other qualified health care professional. under these circumstances the service provided can be identified by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 52, signifying that the service is reduced. this provides a means of reporting reduced services without disturbing the identification of the basic service. note: for hospital outpatient reporting of a previously scheduled procedure/service that is partially reduced or cancelled as a result of extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well-being of the patient prior to or after administration of anesthesia, see modifiers 73 and 74 (see modifiers approved for asc hospital outpatient use).
GA Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, individual case
GY Item or service statutorily excluded, does not meet the definition of any medicare benefit or, for non-medicare insurers, is not a contract benefit
XS Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure
XU Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service
GV Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider
GX Notice of liability issued, voluntary under payer policy
GZ Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary
22 Increased procedural services: when the work required to provide a service is substantially greater than typically required, it may be identified by adding modifier 22 to the usual procedure code. documentation must support the substantial additional work and the reason for the additional work (ie, increased intensity, time, technical difficulty of procedure, severity of patient's condition, physical and mental effort required). note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service.
25 Significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional on the same day of the procedure or other service: it may be necessary to indicate that on the day a procedure or service identified by a cpt code was performed, the patient's condition required a significant, separately identifiable e/m service above and beyond the other service provided or beyond the usual preoperative and postoperative care associated with the procedure that was performed. a significant, separately identifiable e/m service is defined or substantiated by documentation that satisfies the relevant criteria for the respective e/m service to be reported (see evaluation and management services guidelines for instructions on determining level of e/m service). the e/m service may be prompted by the symptom or condition for which the procedure and/or service was provided. as such, different diagnoses are not required for reporting of the e/m services on the same date. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 25 to the appropriate level of e/m service. note: this modifier is not used to report an e/m service that resulted in a decision to perform surgery. see modifier 57 for significant, separately identifiable non-e/m services, see modifier 59.
53 Discontinued procedure: under certain circumstances, the physician or other qualified health care professional may elect to terminate a surgical or diagnostic procedure. due to extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well being of the patient, it may be necessary to indicate that a surgical or diagnostic procedure was started but discontinued. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 53 to the code reported by the individual for the discontinued procedure. note: this modifier is not used to report the elective cancellation of a procedure prior to the patient's anesthesia induction and/or surgical preparation in the operating suite. for outpatient hospital/ambulatory surgery center (asc) reporting of a previously scheduled procedure/service that is partially reduced or cancelled as a result of extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well being of the patient prior to or after administration of anesthesia, see modifiers 73 and 74 (see modifiers approved for asc hospital outpatient use).
76 Repeat procedure or service by same physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was repeated by the same physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 76 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service.
79 Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: the individual may need to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was unrelated to the original procedure. this circumstance may be reported by using modifier 79. (for repeat procedures on the same day, see modifier 76.)
95 Synchronous telemedicine service rendered via a real-time interactive audio and video telecommunications system: synchronous telemedicine service is defined as a real-time interaction between a physician or other qualified health care professional and a patient who is located at a distant site from the physician or other qualified health care professional. the totality of the communication of information exchanged between the physician or other qualified health care professional and the patient during the course of the synchronous telemedicine service must be of an amount and nature that would be sufficient to meet the key components and/or requirements of the same service when rendered via a face-to-face interaction. modifier 95 may only be appended to the services listed in appendix p. appendix p is the list of cpt codes for services that are typically performed face-to-face, but may be rendered via a real-time (synchronous) interactive audio and video telecommunications system.
AG Primary physician
AQ Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa)
CC Procedure code change (use 'cc' when the procedure code submitted was changed either for administrative reasons or because an incorrect code was filed)
CR Catastrophe/disaster related
GC This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician
GW Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition
HA Child/adolescent program
KX Requirements specified in the medical policy have been met
LT Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body)
PN Non-excepted service provided at an off-campus, outpatient, provider-based department of a hospital
PO Excepted service provided at an off-campus, outpatient, provider-based department of a hospital
Q6 Service furnished under a fee-for-time compensation arrangement by a substitute physician or by a substitute physical therapist furnishing outpatient physical therapy services in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area
RT Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body)
SA Nurse practitioner rendering service in collaboration with a physician
TC Technical component; under certain circumstances, a charge may be made for the technical component alone; under those circumstances the technical component charge is identified by adding modifier 'tc' to the usual procedure number; technical component charges are institutional charges and not billed separately by physicians; however, portable x-ray suppliers only bill for technical component and should utilize modifier tc; the charge data from portable x-ray suppliers will then be used to build customary and prevailing profiles
X4 Episodic/focused services: for reporting services by clinicians who provide focused care on particular types of treatment limited to a defined period and circumstance; the patient has a problem, acute or chronic, that will be treated with surgery, radiation, or some other type of generally time-limited intervention; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to, the orthopedic surgeon performing a knee replacement and seeing the patient through the postoperative period
XE Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter
Date
Action
Notes
2011-01-01 Changed Short description changed.
Pre-1990 Added Code added.
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