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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesAudiologic Function TestsCPT cpt-92551-hearing-screening-limited-tones
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    CPT 92551: Limited Hearing Screening with Tones or Sounds

    CPT code 92551 describes a limited hearing screening in which the provider delivers a brief series of tones or sounds to determine whether a patient’s hearing is within an acceptable range to detect hearing problems; this service is typically a screening audiologic evaluation performed in an outpatient clinic, physician office, or school/occupational health setting to identify potential hearing impairment.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Travoprost Intracameral Implant, Ophthalmology - Pilocarpine 1.25%, Cataract Removal Surgery for Adults.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is an adult or pediatric outpatient referred to an audiology or primary care clinic for a screening hearing check after reporting difficulty hearing speech in noisy environments or during a routine preventive visit. The provider (audiologist, primary care physician, or otolaryngologist) performs 92551 as a brief, limited behavioral or automated tone/sound presentation to determine whether hearing sensitivity falls within an acceptable range or warrants full diagnostic testing. The workflow: intake and history focused on hearing concerns and otologic symptoms; otoscopic inspection to ensure ear canal patency; performance of the limited tone screening (air conduction tones at selected frequencies and intensity levels or automated screening device); immediate interpretation and documentation of pass/fail results; counseling to the patient or caregiver about results and next steps (e.g., full audiometry 92557, tympanometry 92567, or ENT referral). Typical sites of service are outpatient clinic, physician office, or ambulatory care center. A common scenario: an elementary school child fails a school hearing screen, is referred to the pediatrician who performs 92551 to confirm screening result before arranging diagnostic audiology or ENT follow-up.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    92557Comprehensive audiometry threshold evaluation, air and bone, pure-tone, with speech audiometryPerformed after an abnormal 92551 to obtain full diagnostic thresholds and speech testing.
    92552Pure tone audiometry (threshold); air onlyMay be used when a more detailed air-conduction threshold test is required following 92551.
    92567Tympanometry and reflex threshold measurementsPerformed alongside diagnostic audiology to assess middle ear function when 92551 suggests conductive issues.
    92626Evaluation of auditory evoked potentials for evoked otoacoustic emissions (OAE) screeningUsed in newborn or automated objective screening programs when physiologic testing is preferred or to corroborate 92551 results.
    93000Electrocardiogram, routine ECG with at least 12 leads; with interpretation and reportData not available in the input.

    Related Modifiers

    8 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    25CPT modifier 25 indicates that on the same day as another procedure or service, the same physician or other qualified health care professional provided a significant, separately identifiable…- When to apply: Use modifier 25 only on an E/M code to indicate the same provider delivered a significant, separately identifiable E/M service on the same day as another procedure or service — i.e.,…
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    91Modifier 91 — “Repeat Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Test” — is appended when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once for the same patient on the same day because serial,…- Use modifier 91 when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once on the same patient on the same date because serial or repeated testing is medically necessary to monitor…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    77Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207L00000X
    2080P0208X
    207RH0000X
    208D00000X
    207RC0000X
    174M00000X
    174MM1900X
    2471C3401X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    26 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    H81.13Benign paroxysmal vertigo, bilateral
    H83.09Labyrinthitis, unspecified ear
    H90.11Conductive hearing loss, unilateral, right ear, with unrestricted hearing on the contralateral side
    H90.12Conductive hearing loss, unilateral, left ear, with unrestricted hearing on the contralateral side
    H90.3Sensorineural hearing loss, bilateral
    H90.41Sensorineural hearing loss, unilateral, right ear, with unrestricted hearing on the contralateral side
    H90.42Sensorineural hearing loss, unilateral, left ear, with unrestricted hearing on the contralateral side
    H90.5Unspecified sensorineural hearing loss
    H90.6Mixed conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, bilateral
    H90.8Mixed conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, unspecified

    Showing 1–10 of 26

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Ophthalmology/Optometry1 / 2

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Travoprost Intracameral ImplantBluecross Idaho2026-11-01
    Ophthalmology - Pilocarpine 1.25%Cigna2026-10-15
    Cataract Removal Surgery for AdultsAnthem2026-10-01
    Brow Ptosis and Eyelid Repair (for Kentucky Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Cataract Removal Surgery for AdultsAnthem2026-10-01
    Brow Ptosis and Eyelid Repair (for New Mexico Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Brow Ptosis and Eyelid Repair (for Ohio Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Brow Ptosis and Eyelid Repair (for Idaho Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Glaucoma Surgical Treatments (for North Carolina Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Brow Ptosis and Eyelid Repair (for Kansas Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-92550-TYMPANOMETRY-AND-ACOUSTIC-REFLEX-TESTING

    CPT 92550: Tympanometry and Acoustic Reflex Threshold Measurement

    CPT-92552-PURE-TONE-AUDIOMETRY-THRESHOLD-ASSESSMENT

    CPT 92552: Pure-Tone Audiometry Threshold Detection

    CPT-92553-PURE-TONE-AUDIOMETRY-AIR-AND-BONE-CONDUCTION

    CPT 92553: Diagnostic Audiometry with Air and Bone Conduction Testing

    CPT-92555-SPEECH-RECEPTION-AWARENESS-THRESHOLD

    CPT 92555: Speech Reception/Awareness Threshold Measurement

    CPT-92556-SPEECH-RECOGNITION-HEARING-ASSESSMENT

    CPT 92556: Word Recognition and Repetition Hearing Assessment

    CPT-92557-DIAGNOSTIC-AUDIOLOGIC-EVALUATION-PURE-TONE-AND-SPEECH-RECOGNITION

    CPT 92557: Audiometry with Speech Recognition

    CPT-92558-NEWBORN-INFANT-OTOACOUSTIC-EMISSIONS-HEARING-SCREEN

    CPT 92558: Otoacoustic Emissions Newborn Hearing Screening

    CPT-92562-ALTERNATE-BINAURAL-PURE-TONE-AUDIOMETRY

    CPT 92562: Binaural Tone Audiometry, Alternating

    CPT-92563-AUDITORY-NERVE-TRANSMISSION-TIMING-ASSESSMENT

    CPT 92563: Auditory Brainstem Response Test for Hearing Transmission

    CPT-92565-BINAURAL-TONE-COMPARISON-UNILATERAL-HEARING-LOSS

    CPT 92565: Binaural Simultaneous-Tone Test for Unilateral Hearing Loss

    Showing 1–10 of 27

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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