Other and unspecified hearing loss (H91) ICD-10-CM
The H91 code range covers other and unspecified hearing loss with 28 ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes. 21 of them are billable and valid for claim submission in fiscal year 2026, and the category headers group them but cannot themselves be billed.
Type 1 Excludes
A type 1 excludes note is a pure excludes note. It means "NOT CODED HERE!" An Excludes1 note indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as the code above the Excludes1 note. An Excludes1 is used when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.
Codes in the H91 Range 28 codes · 21 billable
- H91 Other and unspecified hearing lossNon-billable
- H91.0 Ototoxic hearing lossNon-billable
- H91.01 Ototoxic hearing loss, right ear
- H91.02 Ototoxic hearing loss, left ear
- H91.03 Ototoxic hearing loss, bilateral
- H91.09 Ototoxic hearing loss, unspecified ear
- H91.1 PresbycusisNon-billable
- H91.10 Presbycusis, unspecified ear
- H91.11 Presbycusis, right ear
- H91.12 Presbycusis, left ear
- H91.13 Presbycusis, bilateral
- H91.2 Sudden idiopathic hearing lossNon-billable
- H91.20 Sudden idiopathic hearing loss, unspecified ear
- H91.21 Sudden idiopathic hearing loss, right ear
- H91.22 Sudden idiopathic hearing loss, left ear
- H91.23 Sudden idiopathic hearing loss, bilateral
- H91.3 Deaf nonspeaking, not elsewhere classified
- H91.8 Other specified hearing lossNon-billable
- H91.8X Other specified hearing lossNon-billable
- H91.8X1 Other specified hearing loss, right ear
- H91.8X2 Other specified hearing loss, left ear
- H91.8X3 Other specified hearing loss, bilateral
- H91.8X9 Other specified hearing loss, unspecified ear
- H91.9 Unspecified hearing lossNon-billable
- H91.90 Unspecified hearing loss, unspecified ear
- H91.91 Unspecified hearing loss, right ear
- H91.92 Unspecified hearing loss, left ear
- H91.93 Unspecified hearing loss, bilateral
Clinical Terms in This Code Range
Definitions from the National Library of Medicine for conditions coded in the H91 range.
Choanal Atresia
A congenital abnormality that is characterized by a blocked CHOANAE, the opening between the nose and the NASOPHARYNX. Blockage can be unilateral or bilateral; bony or membranous.
Choroideremia
An X chromosome-linked abnormality characterized by atrophy of the choroid and degeneration of the retinal pigment epithelium causing night blindness.
Correction of Hearing Impairment
Procedures for correcting HEARING DISORDERS.
Deafness
A general term for the complete loss of the ability to hear from both ears.
Hearing Disorders
Conditions that impair the transmission of auditory impulses and information from the level of the ear to the temporal cortices, including the sensorineural pathways.
Hearing Loss
A general term for the complete or partial loss of the ability to hear from one or both ears.
Hearing Loss, Bilateral
Partial hearing loss in both ears.
Hearing Loss, Central
Hearing loss due to disease of the AUDITORY PATHWAYS (in the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM) which originate in the COCHLEAR NUCLEI of the PONS and then ascend bilaterally to the MIDBRAIN, the THALAMUS, and then the AUDITORY CORTEX in the TEMPORAL LOBE. Bilateral lesions of the auditory pathways are usually required to cause central hearing loss. Cortical deafness refers to loss of hearing due to bilateral auditory cortex lesions. Unilateral BRAIN STEM lesions involving the cochlear nuclei may result in unilateral hearing loss.
Hearing Loss, Conductive
Hearing loss due to interference with the mechanical reception or amplification of sound to the COCHLEA. The interference is in the outer or middle ear involving the EAR CANAL; TYMPANIC MEMBRANE; or EAR OSSICLES.
Hearing Loss, Functional
Hearing loss without a physical basis. Often observed in patients with psychological or behavioral disorders.
Hearing Loss, Hidden
Hearing loss that is difficult to diagnose by standard hearing tests as it most often pertains to difficulties in hearing only in certain situations such as in noisy environments.
Hearing Loss, High-Frequency
Hearing loss in frequencies above 1000 hertz.
Hearing Loss, Mixed Conductive-Sensorineural
Hearing loss due to damage or impairment of both the conductive elements (HEARING LOSS, CONDUCTIVE) and the sensorineural elements (HEARING LOSS, SENSORINEURAL) of the ear.
Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced
Hearing loss due to exposure to explosive loud noise or chronic exposure to sound level greater than 85 dB. The hearing loss is often in the frequency range 4000-6000 hertz.
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural
Hearing loss resulting from damage to the COCHLEA and the sensorineural elements which lie internally beyond the oval and round windows. These elements include the AUDITORY NERVE and its connections in the BRAINSTEM.
Hearing Loss, Sudden
Sensorineural hearing loss which develops suddenly over a period of hours or a few days. It varies in severity from mild to total deafness. Sudden deafness can be due to head trauma, vascular diseases, infections, or can appear without obvious cause or warning.
Hearing Loss, Unilateral
Partial or complete hearing loss in one ear.
Ototoxicity
Damage to the EAR or its function secondary to exposure to toxic substances such as drugs used in CHEMOTHERAPY; IMMUNOTHERAPY; or RADIATION.
Presbycusis
Gradual bilateral hearing loss associated with aging that is due to progressive degeneration of cochlear structures and central auditory pathways. Hearing loss usually begins with the high frequencies then progresses to sounds of middle and low frequencies.
Prune Belly Syndrome
A syndrome characterized by abdominal wall musculature deficiency, cryptorchism, and urinary tract abnormalities. The syndrome derives its name from its characteristic distended abdomen with wrinkled skin.
Retrocochlear Diseases
Pathological processes involving the VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR NERVE; BRAINSTEM; or CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. When hearing loss is due to retrocochlear pathology, it is called retrocochlear hearing loss.
Wolfram Syndrome
A hereditary condition characterized by multiple symptoms including those of DIABETES INSIPIDUS; DIABETES MELLITUS; OPTIC ATROPHY; and DEAFNESS. This syndrome is also known as DIDMOAD (first letter of each word) and is usually associated with VASOPRESSIN deficiency. It is caused by mutations in gene WFS1 encoding wolframin, a 100-kDa transmembrane protein.
About the H91 Code Range
The ICD-10 code section H91 covers various types of hearing loss that are either not classified elsewhere or unspecified, with subcodes addressing specific causes and locations such as ototoxicity, presbycusis, sudden idiopathic hearing loss, and other specified hearing impairments.
This section is used to code hearing loss conditions that don’t fall under more common or clearly defined categories. For example, H91.0 specifies ototoxic hearing loss, which refers to ear damage caused by toxic drugs or chemicals, also known as "ototoxicity" or drug-induced deafness. Codes like H91.1 refer to presbycusis, a gradual sensorineural hearing loss associated with aging. Sudden unexplained hearing loss is captured under H91.2, termed "sudden idiopathic hearing loss," which is also called sudden hearing loss. Other codes such as H91.8 cover other specified hearing loss types, with synonyms including psychogenic or partial deafness. The H91.9 codes address unspecified hearing loss conditions, often used when the exact cause or ear affected is unknown but can cover a broad range of hearing difficulties. Recognizing these distinctions helps healthcare professionals and medical coders select the precise ICD-10 code for documenting different types of hearing loss accurately.
Questions About This Page
How many billable codes are in the H91 range?
Of the 28 codes in this range, 21 are billable and valid for claim submission from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. Category header codes group them but cannot be reported on claims.
What does the H91 range classify?
The range classifies other and unspecified hearing loss. Each code links to its own reference page with billing status, MS-DRG grouping, coding notes, and clinical information.
Related References
Source: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM Tabular List and order file, effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
