Find information on hoarse voice diagnosis, including clinical documentation, medical coding, ICD-10 codes (R49.0, J37.0), and SNOMED CT terminology. Learn about causes, symptoms, and treatment options for dysphonia and laryngitis. Explore resources for healthcare professionals on voice disorders, including differential diagnosis and patient care. This resource provides guidance on accurate and efficient documentation for optimal reimbursement and clinical best practices related to hoarseness and voice changes.
Also known as
Chronic laryngitis
Persistent inflammation of the larynx often causing hoarseness.
Acute laryngitis
Short-term laryngeal inflammation, commonly with hoarseness or voice loss.
Dysphonia
Difficulty speaking, including hoarseness, from various physical causes.
Paralysis of vocal cords/larynx
Loss of vocal cord movement, potentially leading to hoarseness or breathing problems.
Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.
Is hoarseness due to laryngitis?
Yes
Acute or chronic laryngitis?
No
Due to vocal cord dysfunction?
When to use each related code
Description |
---|
Hoarse voice |
Acute laryngitis |
Vocal cord nodules |
Coding R49.0 without sufficient documentation specifying the underlying cause can lead to claim denials and inaccurate quality reporting.
Miscoding acute vs. chronic laryngitis (J04.0-J37.0) based on documentation can impact reimbursement and physician profiling.
Failing to capture malignant neoplasms of the larynx (C32) when clinically indicated may delay treatment and compromise patient safety.
Patient presents with a chief complaint of hoarseness, dysphonia, or voice changes. Onset of symptoms was (duration) and is described as (character of hoarseness: e.g., rough, breathy, strained, weak, etc.). Associated symptoms may include throat clearing, cough, vocal fatigue, dysphagia, odynophonia, globus sensation, or shortness of breath. Patient reports (presence or absence) of recent upper respiratory infection, allergies, vocal overuse, laryngopharyngeal reflux, smoking, alcohol use, or exposure to environmental irritants. Past medical history includes (relevant medical conditions e.g., thyroid disorders, neurological conditions, prior neck surgery or trauma). Medications include (list current medications). Family history is (positive or negative) for voice disorders or head and neck cancers. Physical examination reveals (describe findings including laryngeal appearance on indirect or flexible laryngoscopy if performed: e.g., vocal fold mobility, erythema, edema, lesions). Differential diagnosis includes vocal fold nodules, polyps, cysts, laryngitis, Reinke's edema, vocal cord paralysis, laryngeal cancer, muscle tension dysphonia, and neurological voice disorders. Assessment: Hoarse voice likely secondary to (presumed etiology). Plan includes (recommendations for treatment e.g., voice therapy, medication for reflux, further investigation with laryngeal imaging or ENT specialist referral if indicated). Patient education provided regarding vocal hygiene, including hydration, voice rest, and avoidance of irritants. Follow-up scheduled for (date/time) to reassess voice quality and treatment response. ICD-10 code R49.0 (Dysphonia) may be considered pending definitive diagnosis. CPT codes for evaluation and management (e.g., 99202-99205 or 99211-99215) and any procedures performed (e.g., flexible laryngoscopy) will be documented separately based on complexity.