AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-9 - 2006 Issue 4; VOLUMES 1 AND 2 NEW/REVISED CODES
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Effective October 1, 2006, codes in subcategory 389.1, Sensorineural hearing loss, have been revised to better differentiate the existing codes and to create new codes for asymmetric and unilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when there is damage to the inner ear (cochlea) or to the nerve pathways from the inner ear (retrocochlear) to the brain. Sensorineural hearing loss accounts for about 90% of all hearing loss and is found in approximately 23% of the population older than 65 years of age. Possible causes include: age-related hearing loss, acoustic trauma (injury cased by loud noise to...
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Article Overview
This article covers revisions to ICD-9-CM hearing loss coding effective October 1, 2006, with emphasis on changes within the sensorineural hearing loss subcategory. It is relevant to coders, compliance staff, and clinical documentation reviewers who need to understand how the hearing loss category was updated and how the topic is framed clinically. The article also provides general background on sensorineural hearing loss, including broad causes, prevalence, and treatment context.
Why This Topic Matters
Accurate classification of hearing loss depends on understanding how the diagnosis category was revised and what clinical distinctions the update was intended to capture. This matters for coding, documentation review, and consistent reporting of hearing loss diagnoses in claims and records.
What You Will Learn
- How the hearing loss subcategory was revised effective October 1, 2006.
- The clinical background of sensorineural hearing loss.
- The general distinction between bilateral, unilateral, asymmetrical, and combined-type hearing loss coding references.
- Why the hearing loss topic is important for documentation and classification.
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Coding auditors
- Clinical documentation specialists
- Compliance staff
- HIM professionals
Codes Discussed
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