Problems with hearing

This code signifies a patient's subjective complaint or objective finding of impaired auditory perception, without specifying the underlying cause or type of hearing loss. It indicates a general difficulty in hearing sounds or understanding speech.

This code is appropriate when a patient presents with a documented concern about their hearing, but a more specific diagnosis of hearing loss (e.g., conductive, sensorineural, mixed) has not yet been established or is not the primary focus of the encounter. It can be used for initial evaluations of hearing complaints or when the exact etiology is still under investigation.

• Do not use this code if a more specific diagnosis of hearing loss (e.g., H90.x, H91.x in ICD-10-CM) is known.
• Always seek to code to the highest level of specificity once a definitive diagnosis is made.
• This code is often used in conjunction with codes for symptoms like tinnitus or ear pain, or for encounters related to hearing screenings.