CPT code 92556 specifically identifies the audiology procedure for speech audiometry threshold with speech recognition. This code describes a crucial diagnostic test used to evaluate an individual's ability to hear and understand speech.
What Does CPT Code 92556 Represent?
This code encompasses two primary components of speech audiometry:
- Speech Audiometry Threshold (Speech Recognition Threshold - SRT): This part of the test determines the softest level at which a person can accurately identify 50% of spoken words. Often, two-syllable words (spondees) like "hotdog" or "baseball" are used. The SRT provides a valuable cross-check to pure-tone audiometry results and helps confirm hearing sensitivity for speech.
- Speech Recognition (Word Recognition Score - WRS or SRS): This component assesses an individual's ability to understand speech when it is presented at a comfortable listening level, typically above their hearing threshold. The patient is asked to repeat single-syllable words from a standardized list, and the percentage of correctly identified words is recorded. This score is vital for understanding the functional impact of a hearing loss on daily communication.
Purpose and Importance of the Test
The procedure covered by CPT code 92556 is a fundamental part of a comprehensive audiological evaluation. Its results are essential for:
- Diagnosing Hearing Loss: Helps confirm the presence, type, and severity of hearing loss, particularly in relation to understanding spoken language.
- Assessing Communication Ability: Provides direct insight into how well a person can understand speech in various listening conditions, which is often more relevant to real-world communication than pure-tone thresholds alone.
- Guiding Treatment Planning: The scores inform recommendations for hearing aids, cochlear implants, or other assistive listening devices. For example, a person with excellent pure-tone thresholds but poor speech recognition might indicate a specific auditory processing issue.
- Monitoring Progress: Can be used to track changes in hearing over time or to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions.
How the Test is Performed
Typically, a licensed audiologist performs this test in a sound-treated environment:
- The patient wears headphones or insert earphones.
- For the Speech Recognition Threshold (SRT), the audiologist presents spondee words at decreasing intensity levels until the softest level at which the patient can repeat 50% of the words correctly is found.
- For the Speech Recognition Score (SRS/WRS), phonetically balanced words are presented at a comfortable listening level (e.g., a fixed sensation level above the SRT or Most Comfortable Loudness). The patient repeats the words, and the percentage of correct repetitions is calculated. This can be performed in quiet or with background noise to simulate real-world conditions.
CPT Code 92556 vs. 92557
It's important to distinguish CPT code 92556 from other related audiology codes:
| CPT Code | Description | Key Components |
|---|---|---|
| 92556 | Speech audiometry threshold; with speech recognition | Focuses solely on speech components: measures the softest level speech is detected (SRT) and the percentage of words correctly understood at a comfortable level (SRS). |
| 92557 | Comprehensive audiometry threshold evaluation and speech recognition | Encompasses a complete basic hearing test, including SRT, SRS, plus pure-tone air and bone conduction thresholds, making it a more holistic assessment. |
CPT code 92556, while a vital part of audiological assessment, specifically covers the speech-related components, whereas code 92557 indicates a more comprehensive evaluation that includes both pure-tone and speech testing.
