2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R47.9Unspecified speech disturbances

ICD-10-CM Codes›R00–R99›R47-R49›R47

ICD-10-CM R47.9
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

R47.9 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for unspecified speech disturbances. 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. Coders also document this condition as dissociative neurological symptom disorder co-occurrent with symptom of speech production. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Nervous system signs and symptoms.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
R47.9
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Unspecified speech disturbances
Short Description
Unspecified speech disturbances
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
R47
Speech disturbances, not elsewhere classified

Code Classification

ChapterR00–R99Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
SectionR47-R49Symptoms and signs involving speech and voice
CategoryR47Speech disturbances, not elsewhere classified
This CodeR47.9Unspecified speech disturbances

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Dissociative neurological symptom disorder co-occurrent with symptom of speech production
  • Disturbance in speech
  • Essential tremor
  • Has difficulty with speech
  • Hereditary essential tremor
  • Progressive essential tremor, speech impairment, facial dysmorphism, intellectual disability, abnormal behavior syndrome
  • Speech dysfunction
  • Speech problem
  • Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia Cantu type

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.

    • Disorder(of)
      • speech
    • Disturbance(s)
      • speech
    • Impediment, speech
    • Problem(with) (related to)
      • speech
    • Speech
      • defect, disorder, disturbance, impediment

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR SYM010
Nervous system signs and symptoms
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Essential Tremor

    a relatively common disorder characterized by a fairly specific pattern of tremors which are most prominent in the upper extremities and neck, inducing titubations of the head. the tremor is usually mild, but when severe may be disabling. an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance may occur in some families (i.e., familial tremor). (mov disord 1988;13(1):5-10)

  • Essential Tremor

    a movement disorder characterized by involuntary and rhythmic shaking of parts of the body, most often the hands or arms, that can be triggered or worsened by physical or environmental stressors. essential tremor may be progressive and can be inherited in an autosomal dominant manner.

Patient EducationClinical

Speech and Communication Disorders

Many disorders can affect our ability to speak and communicate. They range from saying sounds incorrectly to being completely unable to speak or understand speech. Causes include:

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert R47.9 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
784.59 Speech disturbance 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 R47.9Overview

Is R47.9 (Speech disturbances, not elsewhere classified) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report unspecified speech disturbances on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Can R47.9 be a principal diagnosis?

Use it with care. This is a symptom code, so once a definitive diagnosis explaining the unspecified speech disturbances is established, that condition takes the principal position instead.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of R47.9?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, unspecified speech disturbances converts to ICD-9-CM 784.59 (speech disturbance 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.