Hearing Loss ICD 10 Code

Refresher: What are ICD-10 codes?

ICD-10, also known in its full form as “International Classification of Diseases – 10th Revision,” is a coding system created specifically for diagnosing and treating illnesses. First developed in the 1970s and endorsed by the World Health Organization, these codes are often used by doctors and patients for efficient clinical communication [¹].

For any illness, an assigned ICD-10 code can be used for the diagnosis, procedure, and symptom identification of said illness. This is further divided into ICD-10-CM (Clinical Modification) and ICD-10-PCS. While the former is used for diagnosis, the latter can often be found in in-patient settings and used for coding procedures.

While ICD-10 codes for an illness or condition are the same across the US, different subcategories might exist, which are often categorized through different ICD-10 codes. This can make the ICD-10 code lookup confusing.

However, understanding these codes can help medical providers justify their treatment plans as they allow providers to place a patient’s symptoms into clearly demarcated categories. This speeds up diagnosis and allows for more patients to receive effective treatment.[²]

It is important to consider the division and categorization of ICD-10 codes. Since the codes are created to make patient lives easier, they are often detailed with several sub-sections. This means that the origination of the illness can impact ICD-10 code lookup. It is essential to understand the location and type of disease to be able to find a unique ICD-10 code.

What is the ICD 10 Code for Hearing Loss?

The ICD-10 code for hearing loss depends on the origins of the loss of hearing. Based on this factor, a bifurcation has been established between H90, “conductive and sensorineural hearing loss,” and H91, “other and unspecified hearing loss.” As discussed in the table below, other subcategories also exist.

Hearing Loss ICD 10 code: H90, H91

Hearing Loss ICD code CXX Lookup

Below is a table of the ICD 10 hearing loss codes for types of hearing loss, which are classified under H90, “conductive and sensorineural hearing loss,” and H91, “other and unspecified hearing loss[³][⁴].”

H90: Conductive and Sensorineural Hearing Loss

H91: Other and Unspecified Hearing Loss

Types of Hearing Loss Coded Under H90, H91

ICD-10 codes H90 to H95, “other disorders of the ear,” provided by the World Health Organization, put together several ear conditions, one of which is hearing loss. A loss of the auditory senses is given further subcategories and defined through H90 and H91.

These ICD-10 codes define a loss of hearing caused by different conditions, including aging, diseases, and damage. Since then, new codes have been created for hearing loss in different ears or mixed hearing loss. Unilateral and bilateral options lead to different categorizations, which allow for better diagnosis.

H90 lists down subcategories of conductive hearing loss (caused by something that prevents sound from entering the outer or middle ear) and sensorineural hearing loss (caused by damage to the inner ear or any problems with inner ear nerve pathways). These are divided further into categories that separate loss of hearing in one ear from loss of hearing in both ears.

H91 further defines other kinds of hearing loss. These include ototoxic hearing loss, which is any hearing loss caused by drug-induced damage to the ear. Different ICD-10 codes can emerge from this, as drug-induced hearing loss can also cause tinnitus or dizziness. In some cases, ICD-10 codes are also defined by the cause of the hearing loss, such as the specific substance that led to it.

H91 also mentions Presbycusis, a hearing loss usually experienced by people entering old age. Further divisions are also provided on the basis of specified and unspecified hearing loss.

Types of Hearing Loss Excluded from ICD-10 H90, 91

In a discussion on the loss of hearing, tinnitus is one condition that deserves attention. However, it is not included in ICD-10 H90 and H91. This is because tinnitus is a disorder that deserves its own ICD-10 code. However, since hearing loss is often associated with the condition, it is sometimes listed under hearing loss ICD-10 codes. The tinnitus ICD-10 codes include;

H93: Other disorders of ear, not elsewhere classified [5]

Specification within clinical documentation is essential for the treatment of patients. It also provides convenience and efficiency to medical billing and coding companies, which are responsible for helping doctors provide more patients with treatment.

Audiologists can provide billing companies with much better reporting through detailed ICD-10 codes, which can help them justify their treatment plans. More importantly, ICD-10 codes make medical data more comparable and manageable, eventually leading to better treatment plans through research.

Conclusion

Medical billing and coding companies are forever dedicated to the provision of effective and efficient healthcare to patients all across the US. This means they need to keep up with current treatment plans and look for room for improvement.

ICD-10 codes allow for the standardization of processes leading up to treatment and better monitoring and recording of the relevant treatment plans. This allows for a better quality of care in the future.

Through ICD-10 codes, accurate and more complete information can be recorded for the provider. It allows patients to receive better healthcare and doctors to gain more confidence in their treatment. There are also much fewer denials by billing companies as the ICD-10 codes allow doctors to justify their treatment plans.

Over the years, these codes have helped more deserving patients get the care they deserve by eliminating fraud. ICD-10 codes require more details, encouraging doctors to pull up their socks and record their treatment plans more accurately. Over time, inconsistencies have been eliminated to a great extent.

ICD-10 codes can overlap, so it is important to understand the cause of the illness and specific symptoms. Only then can a disease be organized in the right subcategory for future requirements.