Refresher: What are ICD-10 codes?

The International Classification of Diseases, short for ICD-10, is a collection of medical diseases that simplify the tracking of diagnostic data, healthcare outcomes, and various other statistics [1].

Now in its 10th revision, the ICD-10 has over 67,000 codes that allow for increased specificity. The ICD-9, its predecessor, had only 13,000 codes that were often too broad to be used for accurate diagnostics. The ICD-10-CM is a clinically modified version of the ICD-10 that is used throughout US healthcare organizations. It is also utilized for billing and payment processing [2].

The ICD-10 has several advantages over the ICD-9, including:

• More consistent terminology of various medical conditions
• Keeping track of each medical condition's specifics, such as location, complexity, and severity
• Introducing more concepts to the cataloging system that were not found in the previous code set

You will also have come across the ICD-10-PCS, a classification system that is used by medical professionals to track various health interventions. There are over 87,000 codes that are only applicable to inpatient hospital settings in US organizations.

What is the ICD 10 code for Tinnitus?

For tinnitus, the general ICD-10 code is H93.1, a disorder in which the patient hears noises such as ringing, clicking, roaring, and buzzing, even though there is no explainable origin of such noise.

Tinnitus ICD 10 code: H93.1

Tinnitus ICD code H93.1 lookup

Below is a table of the ICD 10 tinnitus codes, which are classified under H93.1 [3]. Note that this code should not be used for other disorders of the ear, such as transient ischemic deafness and vascular disorders.

According to studies, approximately 25 million Americans, or about 10% of the adult population, experience some form of tinnitus. Nearly 5 million people may experience chronic tinnitus, while 2 million find it to be debilitating. It can be difficult to objectively evaluate tinnitus because it is a subjective phenomenon [4].

In most cases, a high-frequency test is used by audiologists to determine the intensity and pitch of the tinnitus. For most patients, tinnitus has a very consistent sound that can be matched to frequencies during a hearing test. This helps doctors understand how tinnitus is affecting the patient.

There is no cure for tinnitus. However, it is possible for patients to live a normal life with tinnitus using various therapies. Most patients are prescribed hearing aids to mask the sound of tinnitus. This allows patients to cope with the tinnitus and continue their life as normal. Patients can also use regular headphones, music, and even television to help them relax or fall asleep.

Another method of mitigating tinnitus is to use ear wax removal. This doesn't always fix tinnitus but may be able to help minimize the impact of tinnitus.

Patients may also be prescribed antidepressants to treat tinnitus. This includes desipramine, imipramine, and protriptyline, among others. These medications work by increasing serotonin, which could suppress the effects of the GABA neurotransmitter and reduce the symptoms of tinnitus.

Types of Tinnitus coded under H93.1 and H93.A

The ICD 10 code H93.1 does not specify the subtype of tinnitus. An H93.1 code can be used for tinnitus of various types.

• Right objective pulsatile tinnitus
• Right objective tinnitus
• Right subjective pulsatile tinnitus
• Right subjective tinnitus
• Right tinnitus
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ear), right
• Tinnitus of the right ear
• Left objective pulsatile tinnitus
• Left objective tinnitus
• Left subjective pulsatile tinnitus
• Left subjective tinnitus
• Left tinnitus
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ear), left
• Tinnitus of left ear
• Bilateral objective pulsatile tinnitus
• Bilateral objective tinnitus
• Bilateral subjective pulsatile tinnitus
• Bilateral subjective tinnitus
• Bilateral tinnitus
• Both sides, objective pulsatile tinnitus
• Both sides, objective tinnitus
• Both sides, subjective pulsatile tinnitus
• Both sides, subjective tinnitus
• Both sides tinnitus
• Objective pulsatile tinnitus
• Objective tinnitus
• Pulsatile tinnitus, objective
• Pulsatile tinnitus subjective
• Subjective pulsatile tinnitus
• Subjective tinnitus
• Tinnitus
• Tinnitus ringing in ears)
• Tinnitus, subjective (hearing ringing in the ears)

In other words, bilateral objective pulsatile tinnitus, bilateral subjective pulsatile tinnitus ICD 10, and Right subjective pulsatile tinnitus ICD 10 codes could all be H93.1 if the patient hears a ringing noise with no external source. As a concrete example, tinnitus (ringing in the ear) in the right ear would be coded with H93.11.

A quick comparison of the ICD-10 with the ICD-9 shows clear advantages. The former allows for more specificity when diagnosing disease. This makes it easier for medical professionals to identify the specific type of disease and treat it more effectively.

The ICD-10 also simplifies the storage of medical histories in an organized and consistent manner. This allows physicians from different healthcare organizations to retrieve accurate information about the patient.

There are a few disadvantages of the ICD-10 that are worth discussing. The biggest disadvantage of the ICD-10 is that it can be fairly expensive to implement because service providers often charge a premium for upgrading the IT infrastructure. The upgrade may also take a long time to implement, causing a slight dip in productivity that could eat away at profits in the short run.

In addition, healthcare providers and medical coders may also be required to upgrade their certifications in line with the ICD-10-CM. This means more investment of time and resources in seminars and classes. Finally, the high specificity of the ICD-10 means that it can be easy to misdiagnose a medical condition. This can have devastating consequences for the patient, including exposure to undesirable side effects from medication that can deteriorate their health.

Other disorders of the ear excluded from ICD-10 H93.1 and H93.A

Below is a table of the ICD 10 codes for disorders of the ear that are excluded from H93.1 [5].

H93: Other disorders of the ear, not elsewhere classified

Conclusion

The ICD-10 codes for tinnitus are H93.1 and allow medical professionals to make a detailed diagnosis of tinnitus. The coding system does not apply to other specified disorders of both ears. Please note that the information provided in this article is meant to be used for reference purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice.

If you experience any symptoms of tinnitus, you should visit a healthcare professional at the earliest for diagnosis. You can also diagnose any questions you have about ICD-10 H93.1 and H93.A codes discussed above to a healthcare professional.