Aphasia

This code represents a disorder affecting the ability to communicate, specifically impacting the production or comprehension of speech and language. It results from damage to brain areas controlling language, often due to stroke, head injury, or neurological disease.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates a patient presents with aphasia, such as expressive aphasia (difficulty speaking), receptive aphasia (difficulty understanding), or global aphasia. Supporting documentation should detail the type and severity of the language impairment.

• Always code the underlying cause of the aphasia first (e.g., stroke, brain injury, tumor).
• Distinguish aphasia from dysarthria (difficulty with speech articulation) or dysphagia (difficulty swallowing).
• Specificity regarding the type of aphasia (e.g., expressive, receptive) should be sought if available in the documentation.