Voice and resonance disorders (R49)
The ICD-10 code section R49 covers disorders affecting voice and resonance, including conditions that alter how a person speaks or produces sound. These codes are used for documenting and diagnosing voice disturbances such as hoarseness, loss of voice, and abnormal nasal sounds.
This section includes R49.0 for dysphonia, which refers to a hoarse or strained voice often described by terms like chronic hoarseness or hyperfunctional dysphonia. The R49.1 code for aphonia applies when someone loses their ability to produce voiced sounds, also known as loss of voice. R49.21 and R49.22 specify hypernasality and hyponasality, conditions where the voice sounds overly nasal or less nasal than normal. R49.8 covers other voice and resonance disorders such as breathy voice, voice tremor, or abnormal vocal pitch, capturing a range of voice quality issues. For cases where the specific disorder is unclear, R49.9 is used for unspecified voice and resonance disorders, helping clinicians code symptoms like vocal cord dysfunction without a precise diagnosis. Together, these codes guide medical coders in accurately classifying disorders related to voice production and resonance.
Instructional Notations
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.
- psychogenic voice and resonance disorders F44.4
Clinical Terms
The following clinical terms provide additional context, helping users better understand the clinical background and common associations for each diagnosis listed in this section. Including related terms alongside ICD-10-CM codes supports coders, billers, and healthcare professionals in improving accuracy, enhancing documentation, and facilitating research or patient education.
Aphonia
Complete loss of phonation due to organic disease of the larynx or to nonorganic (i.e., psychogenic) causes.
Dysphonia
Difficulty and/or pain in PHONATION or speaking.
Phonation
The process of producing vocal sounds by means of VOCAL CORDS vibrating in an expiratory blast of air.
Vocal Cord Dysfunction
A disorder characterized by an intermittent abnormal VOCAL CORDS movement toward the midline during inspiration or expiration resulting in upper AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION.
