Summary & Overview
CPT 0208T: Air Conduction Hearing Threshold Testing
CPT code 0208T denotes an audiologic diagnostic test that uses air conduction to determine hearing threshold levels and to classify the type of hearing loss. This code captures a focused clinical service used in outpatient audiology and otolaryngology settings to evaluate auditory sensitivity across frequencies. Nationally, such diagnostic audiology codes are important for accurately characterizing hearing loss, guiding management, and informing coverage decisions.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of the clinical intent of the code, typical sites of service, and the scope of services represented by the code. The publication summarizes payer coverage patterns and common modifiers encountered, notes where data were not provided, and situates the code within typical outpatient audiology workflows.
This summary is intended to clarify the clinical purpose and billing context of 0208T, outline what payers commonly address in coverage for diagnostic audiology, and provide a reference point for clinicians, billing staff, and policy analysts evaluating coding and reimbursement practices for air conduction threshold testing.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 0208T describes a diagnostic audiologic procedure in which the provider uses air conduction mode to assess the patient’s hearing threshold levels and establish the type of hearing loss. This procedure evaluates auditory sensitivity across frequencies delivered via air conduction, helping differentiate conductive, sensorineural, and mixed hearing loss.
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Service type: Audiologic diagnostic testing (air conduction threshold testing)
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Typical site of service: Audiology clinic, ENT office, or other outpatient diagnostic setting
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Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 58-year-old patient presents to an otolaryngology or audiology clinic with progressive bilateral hearing difficulty and tinnitus. The clinician performs a pure-tone air conduction threshold test using calibrated audiometric equipment to determine hearing sensitivity across frequencies and to classify the type (conductive, sensorineural, or mixed) and degree of hearing loss. The workflow includes patient history and otoscopic inspection, explanation of test procedures, positioning in a sound-treated booth, placement of supra-aural or insert earphones, delivery of pure tones via air conduction, and recording thresholds for each ear. Results guide further diagnostics (bone conduction testing, tympanometry) and management decisions such as amplification referral, medical evaluation, or ENT surgical consultation. Typical sites of service are outpatient audiology clinics, otolaryngology offices, hearing centers, and hospital outpatient departments.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | No modifier; standard reporting | Use when no reason to append a modifier; standard claim submission for the procedure |
22 | Increased procedural services | Use when the work required is substantially greater than typically required and documentation supports atypical time/effort |
23 | Unusual anesthesia | Rarely used for audiometry; use only if unusual anesthesia was necessary and documented |
51 | Multiple procedures | Use when audiometric testing is billed with additional procedures on the same day and payer requires this modifier |
52 | Reduced services | Use when the test was partially reduced or not completed and documentation supports reduced service |
53 | Discontinued procedure | Use when the test is started but discontinued for patient safety or tolerance reasons and documented |
54 | Surgical care only | Not typically applicable to diagnostic audiometry; use only if part of a global surgical package when reporting diagnostic portion separately |
55 | Postoperative management only | Not typically applicable; use only if audiometry is billed as postoperative management per payer rules |
62 | Two surgeons | Rare for this procedure; use only when two qualified providers share the procedure and payer allows split reporting |
78 | Unplanned return to OR | Not applicable to office audiometry; not commonly used |
80 | Assistant at surgery | Not applicable to diagnostic audiometry |
82 | Assistant not available | Not applicable to diagnostic audiometry |
AS | Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services | Use when services are furnished by an advanced practice clinician and payer requires identification |
QK | Medical direction of two or more assistants | Not typically applicable; use only if applicable under payer rules |
| Taxonomy Code | Specialty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
207Y00000X | Otolaryngology | ENT physicians commonly order and interpret audiometry |
206E00000X | Audiology | Licensed audiologists perform and interpret hearing tests and counseling |
363A00000X | Nurse Practitioner | NPs in ENT or primary care may coordinate testing and follow-up |
207L00000X | Physician Assistant | PAs in ENT or otology assist with ordering and basic interpretation |
261QM0800X | Hearing Aid Specialist | Perform testing related to amplification fitting and verification |
Related Diagnoses
| ICD-10 Code | Description | Clinical Relevance |
|---|---|---|
H91.90 | Unspecified hearing loss, unspecified ear | Common presenting diagnosis when initial audiometric assessment documents hearing loss without further classification |
H90.3 | Sensorineural hearing loss, bilateral | Air-conduction thresholds indicate sensorineural patterns prompting this diagnosis |
H90.5 | Mixed conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, bilateral | Used when air conduction shows loss and bone conduction or tympanometry indicate mixed pathology |
H90.41 | Sudden sensorineural hearing loss, right ear | Air-conduction testing is part of evaluation for acute unilateral sudden hearing loss |
H91.02 | Ototoxic hearing loss, bilateral | Air-conduction thresholds help document degree and progression of ototoxicity |
H92.09 | Otalgia, unspecified ear | When ear pain accompanies hearing complaints and audiometry is part of the diagnostic workup |
H83.3 | Tinnitus, unspecified ear | Patients with tinnitus frequently receive audiometric testing to assess associated hearing loss |
Related CPT Codes
| CPT Code | Description | Relationship to This Procedure |
|---|---|---|
92557 | Comprehensive audiometry threshold evaluation, air and bone, pure-tone thresholds, speech recognition | Often performed alongside or following air-conduction testing to include bone conduction and speech measures for full audiologic assessment |
92567 | Tympanometry (impedance testing) | Performed before or after air-conduction testing to assess middle ear function and help differentiate conductive components |
92570 | Acoustic reflex testing | Complements air-conduction results by evaluating reflex pathways and middle ear status |
92626 | Evaluation of auditory rehabilitation status; first hour | Used when counseling or hearing aid management follows audiometric testing for amplification habilitation |
92521 | Pure tone audiometry (behavioral), air only | A related code for straightforward air-only pure-tone threshold testing; may be used depending on payer and service components |
92601 | Diagnostic analysis of cochlear implant mapping | Performed later in the care pathway when air-conduction testing identifies severe-to-profound loss and implant candidacy is pursued |