2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R44.9Unspecified symptoms and signs involving general sensations and perceptions

ICD-10-CM Codes›R00–R99›R40-R46›R44

ICD-10-CM R44.9
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

R44.9 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for unspecified symptoms and signs involving general sensations and perceptions. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). As a symptom code, it should not be used as a principal diagnosis once a related definitive diagnosis has been established. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under General sensation/perception signs and symptoms.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
R44.9
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Unspecified symptoms and signs involving general sensations and perceptions
Short Description
Unsp symptoms and signs w general sensations and perceptions
Parent Code
R44
Other symptoms and signs involving general sensations and perceptions

Code Classification

ChapterR00–R99Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
SectionR40-R46Symptoms and signs involving cognition, perception, emotional state and behavior
CategoryR44Other symptoms and signs involving general sensations and perceptions
This CodeR44.9Unspecified symptoms and signs involving general sensations and perceptions

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Abnormal perception
  • Abnormal sensation
  • Hearing change
  • Hearing improved
  • Hearing symptoms
  • Hearing unchanged
  • Limited sensory perception
  • Patient condition unchanged
  • Perception AND/OR perception disturbance
  • Sensation
  • Sensory distortion
  • Sensory symptoms
  • Simulation of physical illness

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance

References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.

    • Loss(of)
      • sensory
    • Symptoms NEC
      • involving
        • general perceptions and sensations

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR SYM015
General sensation/perception signs and symptoms
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Globus Sensation

    a feeling of a lump in the throat that occurs between meals in the absence of other gastrointestinal and motility disorders (e.g., dysphagia; gastroesophageal reflux).

  • Hyperalgesia

    an increased sensation of pain or discomfort produced by minimally noxious stimuli due to damage to soft tissue containing nociceptors or injury to a peripheral nerve.

  • Hyperesthesia

    increased sensitivity to cutaneous stimulation due to a diminished threshold or an increased response to stimuli.

  • Hypesthesia

    absent or reduced sensitivity to cutaneous stimulation.

  • Phantom Limb

    perception of painful and nonpainful phantom sensations that occur following the complete or partial loss of a limb. the majority of individuals with an amputated extremity will experience the impression that the limb is still present, and in many cases, painful. (from neurol clin 1998 nov;16(4):919-36; brain 1998 sep;121(pt 9):1603-30)

  • Sensation

    the process in which specialized sensory receptor cells transduce peripheral stimuli (physical or chemical) into nerve impulses which are then transmitted to the various sensory centers in the central nervous system.

  • Sensation Disorders

    disorders of the special senses (i.e., vision; hearing; taste; and smell) or somatosensory system (i.e., afferent components of the peripheral nervous system).

  • Somatosensory Disorders

    disorders of sensory information received from superficial and deep regions of the body. the somatosensory system conveys neural impulses which pertain to proprioception, tactile sensation, thermal sensation, pressure sensation, and pain. peripheral nervous system diseases; spinal cord diseases; and brain diseases may be associated with impaired or abnormal somatic sensation.

  • Vertigo

    an illusion of movement, either of the external world revolving around the individual or of the individual revolving in space. vertigo may be associated with disorders of the inner ear (ear, inner); vestibular nerve; brainstem; or cerebral cortex. lesions in the temporal lobe and parietal lobe may be associated with focal seizures that may feature vertigo as an ictal manifestation. (from adams et al., principles of neurology, 6th ed, pp300-1)

  • Nociceptors

    peripheral afferent neurons which are sensitive to injuries or pain, usually caused by extreme thermal exposures, mechanical forces, or other noxious stimuli. their cell bodies reside in the dorsal root ganglia. their peripheral terminals (nerve endings) innervate target tissues and transduce noxious stimuli via axons to the central nervous system.

Patient EducationClinical

Psychotic Disorders

Psychotic disorders are severe mental disorders that cause abnormal thinking and perceptions. People with psychoses lose touch with reality. Two of the main symptoms are delusions and hallucinations. Delusions are false beliefs, such as thinking that someone is plotting against you or that the TV is sending you secret messages.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Convert R44.9 to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
799.89 Ill-define condition NEC
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About R44.9Overview

Is R44.9 a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report unspecified symptoms and signs involving general sensations and perceptions on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Can R44.9 be a principal diagnosis?

Use it with care. This is a symptom code, so once a definitive diagnosis explaining the unspecified symptoms and signs involving general sensations and perceptions is established, that condition takes the principal position instead.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of R44.9?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, unspecified symptoms and signs involving general sensations and perceptions converts to ICD-9-CM 799.89 (ill-define condition NEC). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.

Footnotes

[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.